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August 30, 2026
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Guyana was ‘conned’ out of billions by failure to ring-fence Exxon’s projects - Glenn Lall Govt. mum 15 days after MV Barima salvage tender closes - Mahipaul Masked gunmen snatch $23 million cash in La Grange hardware heist The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Friday officially opened the Roots and Flavours Culinary Arts Centre at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI), Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, creating a new platform for culinary training, entrepreneurship, employment and financial independence.
Govt. deliberately trying to destroy - Norton Linden community
‘Guyanese must get bigger share of new oil projects’ ...Norton says risks to investors have already been removed
Kaieteur News
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Sunday August 30, 2026
Guyana was ‘conned’ out of billions by failure to ring-fence Exxon’s projects - Glenn Lall Businessman and Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall has accused successive governments of failing to protect Guyana’s oil wealth by refusing to ring-fence individual petroleum projects in the Stabroek Block, arguing that the decision has cost the country billions of US dollars in foregone revenues. Lall made the claims while examining President I r f a a n A l i ’s r e c e n t announcement that his
Government will seek expert advice as Guyana moves ahead with additional oil developments. According to Lall, the decision to seek expert advice now comes after years of warnings from international experts about the need for stronger safeguards around Guyana’s petroleum resources. He said one of the most important recommendations made to Guyana was that each oil development should be ring-fenced, beginning
with Liza One. “Ring-fence each oil project, starting with Liza One,” Lall said, d e s c r i b i n g t h e recommendation as one that both the former Coalition Government and the PPP administration failed to implement. Lall contends that the absence of ring-fencing created a system under which revenues generated by producing projects could be used to recover costs associated with subsequent
developments. He argued that this fundamentally changed the way Guyanese should view the massive investment figures repeatedly associated with ExxonMobil’s offshore operations. For years, Lall said, Guyanese were led to believe that ExxonMobil was putting billions of dollars of its own money into one oil project after another. He pointed specifically to statements by Vice President Businessman, Glenn Lall Bharrat Jagdeo, who has previously argued that the s c a l e o f t h e o ff s h o r e developments was so large that Guyana’s entire banking system would not have been sufficient to finance one project. Lall said that while the initial investment in Liza One was indeed made before Guyana began receiving oil revenues, the situation changed once production commenced. He said Liza One’s development cost was initially estimated at approximately US$4.4 billion, before being reduced to about US$3.5 billion. Lall pointed to the reduction of nearly US$1 billion and noted that Jagdeo, who was Opposition Leader at the time, had publicly challenged the original cost and subsequently highlighted his role in the reduction. However, according to Lall, the more significant issue arose after Liza One began producing oil. He argued that once production started, the revenues generated from the project were available for cost recovery under the existing PSA arrangement, allowing expenditure associated with subsequent developments to be recovered from petroleum revenues. “That was the con,” Lall argued, contending that the oil itself became the source of financing for successive developments. He said the process continued as Liza One and Liza Two production revenues were used to recover costs associated with later projects. DEVELOPMENT COST Lall also questioned the substantial increase in the development cost between Liza One and Liza Two. While Liza One’s final estimated development cost was approximately US$3.5 billion, Liza Two was approved at an estimated
cost of about US$6.6 billion, according to figures cited by Lall. He argued that, without ring-fencing, the financial burden of subsequent projects was effectively placed within the wider costrecovery structure of the Stabroek Block. Lall further contended that the same mechanism continued as additional projects were developed. He pointed to the subsequent Payara and Yellowtail developments and argued that revenues from producing projects were helping to finance projects that had not yet begun production. The businessman said this is precisely why the ringfencing issue is critical to understanding Guyana’s oil revenues. Under a ring-fenced arrangement, he explained, the costs and revenues of each project would be treated separately, meaning that the development costs of a new project could not simply be recovered against revenues from an earlier producing project. Lall said Guyanese therefore need to look beyond headline figures showing how much ExxonMobil and its partners have invested in the Stabroek Block. “The question is no longer how much Exxon invested from their pockets,” he argued. “The question is: after our oil started pumping and generating billions, who was really financing all the projects that came after?” Lall’s comments come amid continuing debate over the financial consequences of Guyana’s decision not to include ring-fencing provisions in the 2016 Stabroek Block PSA. The issue has been repeatedly raised by opposition politicians, civil s o c i e t y o rg a n i s a t i o n s , economists and oil-sector Continued on page 3
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
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President Ali brushes off Bloomberg report on oil curse in Guyana A Bloomberg article recently concluded that the world’s fastest growing economy may already have the oil curse hanging over its head, pointing to profound vulnerabilities such as weak state capacity, fragile institutions, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainty to name a few, but President Irfaan Ali has brushed off the analysis as a mere “perception” arguing that one should instead focus on the report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which he believes gives the country a clean bill of health. During his most recent engagement with the press at his Georgetown office, the Headof-State was invited by Kaieteur News to share his thoughts on the damning article produced by the American media powerhouse, renowned for business and markets news, data, analysis and more. According to the July 29 report, Bloomberg assessed Guyana’s trajectory against dozens of benchmarks laid out in the Natural Resource Charter, a set of principles developed in 2010 by economists and policy experts to help resource-rich countries turn commodity booms into lasting prosperity. That analysis found that Guyana meets four principles on accountable public decision-making, investing revenue for citizens, smoothing revenue volatility, and international harmonisation. Additionally, it partially fulfills those on building an inclusive national strategy, state enterprise accountability, public spending efficiency and diversification. The report however highlights that Guyana “falls short on transparent and competitive rights allocation, local content participation, upholding the highest corporate environmental, social and human rights standards, and structuring tax and contract terms to capture the full value of its resources.” Notably, this largely corresponds with the findings of the 2021 Resource Governance Index, a diagnostic tool created by the New York-based Natural Resource Governance Institute to assess how commodity producers manage their resources. Bloomberg highlighted that Guyana was placed in the “weak” performance category, with an aggregated score of 56 out of 100. “As a new producer, Guyana is still developing the institutional framework to
...says IMF gave country clean bill of health
President Irfaan Ali successfully govern its oil and gas sector. With weakness evident in value realisation, revenue management and the overall enabling environment, the government should prioritise the development of a robust resource governance framework,” the report concluded. It was explained that Guyana’s biggest gaps are institutional. For his part, President Ali said Bloomberg made an assessment based on “perception”. He subtly discredited the author by explaining that even though the report suggests that Ali met with him in a “bar” at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, this was hardly the truth. The President said, “The guy said he met me in a bar, and I can tell you now that I was at a public engagement at the Marriott. I came down from that engagement, and out of c o u r t e s y, h e w a s t h e r e , a n d h e asked...because he was leaving the next morning and I met him in the lobby of the Marriott so that tells you something.” As such he suggested that instead of the Bloomberg assessment, one should look at the IMF report which he described as “structured, fact based” and has “empirical evidence”. Ali said, “And the IMF report that is fact based, based on empirical evidence, based on structural analysis, done by professional economists and global thinkers, independently evaluated, they said that our
Guyana was ‘conned’ out of billions... From page 2 analysts. Lall also questioned why, after years of oil production, the Government is now emphasising the need for expert advice on future developments. He said experts had been advising Guyana from the early stages of the country’s oil industry and argued that successive administrations failed to act on some of the key recommendations. He maintained that the absence of ring-fencing has deprived Guyana of revenues it could otherwise have received earlier from producing projects. Lall pointed to estimates suggesting that Guyana could have earned billions more under a ring-fenced arrangement, although the precise financial impact remains a matter of debate among oil-sector analysts. He is now calling for greater scrutiny of the country’s oil accounts and the cost-recovery mechanism governing the Stabroek Block. According to Lall, Guyanese should be
provided with a clear accounting of how much each project has cost, how much has been recovered, which projects financed those costs and how much revenue Guyana would have received had each development been ring-fenced. With several additional offshore projects planned, the controversy over ringfencing is likely to remain a major issue as Guyana determines how its rapidly expanding oil industry should be managed. Lall’s central argument is that while ExxonMobil and its partners made the initial capital investment to establish production, the revenues generated by Guyana’s oil subsequently became an important source of funding for the development and cost recovery of additional projects. He contends that Guyana’s failure to ring-fence the projects allowed that process to continue and ultimately left the country with billions of dollars less in immediate petroleum revenues than it might otherwise have received.
economy is healthy, that the way we are managing the oil resources, the way we are managing our revenue, is commendable, and I’m just summarising.” He continued, “They spoke in a laudable way about our development parameters, our priorities and our focus, so if you look at that compared to a perception analysis by someone, and there are many other Bloomberg articles that I can point to that are very positive. There are more that will be done, I’m sure, and other international news agency. But I want to stick to what the IMF (said), an independent, globally recognised institution had to say about Guyana...that is based on purely facts, empirical evidence, studies, analysis, the review of institutions,
review of modalities, and everything that constitute that.” In the same IMF report cited by the President, the institution made key recommendations similar to issues flagged by Bloomberg. For instance, IMF urged Guyana to strengthen its oil and gas audit systems, noting that the country’s rapidly expanding petroleum sector increases the need for stronger financial oversight and accountability. In the meantime, the institution praised government’s borrowing strategy concluding that the country’s debt remains sustainable, even as it is expected to climb to US$10.3 billion by the end of 2026.
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456 Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Oil audits – silence protects Guyanese interests
T
he Government of Guyana has now adopted a new posture on audits of ExxonMobil’s spending. “Silence protects your interests,” according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Silence did nothing of the sort before, harmed the interests of citizens, and has made citizens increasingly skeptical. The British audit firm IHS Markit did what we believe was a proper audit of ExxonMobil’s expenses for the period 1999-2017. From US$1.67B in spending claimed by ExxonMobil, IHS Markit flagged US$214M in findings. It is now over five years since the final audit report was submitted, and those findings are still unresolved. There was a development, though, that occurred under the cover of dark, which reduced the findings of the British audit firm from US$214M to US$3M. It was a mystery development that would have cost Guyana approximately over US$100M, if it was not broadcast by this paper and other media. A storm of protests resulted and, just as mysteriously as US$214M in audit findings was engineered down to US$3M, it was made to bounce back to the original US$214M in disputed expenses claimed by ExxonMobil. In considering the above facts, which are undisputed, it would help if the same Ministry of Natural Resources that stated “silence protects your interests” could inform the public how the silence that surrounded those secret developments protects the interests of citizens. We know that a scapegoat was found in a ministry employee. But the ensuing silence that swirled around his action has only confirmed that citizens are being betrayed, rather than protected. Silence is an asset to the PPPC Government and a powerful resource to conceal its skullduggeries. The government has used it well. Silence from leaders on how ExxonMobil can market itself as a trusted partner of Guyana, but still resists treating the Guyana Government with any respect. Silence on why ExxonMobil refuses to recognise the Guyana Government as an equal partner in the naming of a Sole Expert to resolve the disputed IHS Market findings. Silence on why it must be that ExxonMobil has the final say on who the Sole Expert should be. Silence on the issue of whether ExxonMobil had any involvement in discussions with an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources, after the GRA had stated that the US$214M in findings represented where it stood. Discussions that lead to the reducing of US$214M to US$3M, just like that. The question that we have for the Ministry is how does any of the above instances of silence protect the interests of Guyana and its citizens. We reject the position that silence protects citizens. We take the position that silence protects ExxonMobil, because it allows its manoeuvres that benefit only itself to go undetected by citizens. Transparency on oil audits instead of silence would inform citizens about who ExxonMobil really is, and the lengths to which it would go to squeeze every last cent out of Guyana’s oil revenues. Generally speaking, oil audits provide host countries with a fair idea of the kind of value that they are getting for the billions that their oil partners claim as expenses. The more an oil company submits as billions spent on oil operations, the less there is as oil profits for the host country. It is imperative, therefore, that the best audit teams are engaged and given a free hand, so that they give of their skills and experience for the benefit of the people paying them. The more that they find as questionable charges that should not be allowed, the more that such legitimate efforts result in higher profits for the host country. We think that Guyana got value from the IHS Markit audit. With reference
Sunday August 30, 2026
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Surveillance over safety DEAR EDITOR, As one moves around Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara, it is impossible not to notice the growing network of surveillance cameras positioned at almost every corner. At the same time, it is equally difficult to ignore the fact that the number of functioning traffic lights across the city and along the highways could likely be counted on ten fingers. This contrast is extraordinarily revealing. The Government appears to have invested far more in its capacity to watch citizens than in the basic infrastructure required to help us move safely, predictably and efficiently along our increasingly dangerous roadways. Such a disparity in priorities suggests an
administration that is more preoccupied with monitoring and control than with public safety and competent public administration. There is, of course, a legitimate role for surveillance technology in preventing crime, supporting law enforcement, improving public services and enhancing public safety. However, public safety cannot be reduced to simply watching people. Traffic lights are not decorative conveniences. They regulate competing traffic flows, protect pedestrians, reduce confusion and help prevent injury and death. When they are not functioning, motorists and pedestrians are forced to negotiate dangerous intersections through instinct,
to the two other audits for US$7.2B and US$19.6B that are still pending, there are too many unknowns and too much of the same crippling silence. We do not believe that there is another country in the world where US$26.8B in oil spending can remain tied up for
aggression and chance. In those circumstances, the consequences of governmental failure are transferred directly onto ordinary road users. The PPP Government appears increasingly capable of constructing systems that observe, record and control, while struggling to maintain the ordinary systems that make our daily life safer, more orderly and more predictable. A State that can install cameras at scale should also be capable of keeping traffic lights operational. Citizens should not be forced to choose between being watched and being served. A modern State must be capable of doing both. Amanza Walton, M.P
years, and the government’s best defence is silence. Silence serves the interests of those who have much to hide. Silence rarely can, and likely will not, “protect your interests.” Because multibillion dollar oil audits are involved, silence gives every appearance of coverups.
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox MOH response to ‘SECOND Class Patients’ DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of Health has taken note of the opinion piece titled “Second-Class Patients” published on August 28, 2026, and wishes to address several misconceptions and inaccuracies contained therein. The Ministry reiterates its unwavering commitment to ensuring that every Guyanese citizen, r eg ar d les s o f in co me, geographic location, or social circumstance, has access to equitable, highquality healthcare. The assertion that current policies are creating “second-class patients” is not supported by evidence and misrepresents both the intent and the outcomes of the Government’s ongoing health sector reforms. The healthcare voucher programme was introduced to ensure that patients receive necessary medical services in a timely manner when demand temporarily exceeds available capacity within the public system. It does not replace public healthcare, nor does it diminish the Government’s responsibility to provide c a r e . R a t h e r, i t i s a patientcentred mechanism designed to reduce waiting times, improve access to diagnostic and specialist services, and prevent avoidable delays in care. Crucially, the programme plays a central role in screening and early detection, which are internationally recognised as essential components of modern public health. Screening for eye conditions, cervical cancer, and chronic diseases through
laboratory testing allows the health system to identify risks early, intervene before complications develop, and prevent longterm disability. This is not preferential treatment; it is preventative medicine. The article’s criticism of laboratory testing fails to acknowledge a fundamental clinical distinction: not all laboratory tests carry the same urgency. Emergency, i n p a t i e n t , m a t e r n i t y, intensive care, and surgical patients receive priority testing because immediate clinical decisions depend on those results. Many vouchersupported tests are routine screening and surveillance investigations, which do not carry the same urgency and are appropriately processed within standard turnaround times. The voucher programme therefore does not provide unfair advantages; it expands access while ensuring that emergency and critical services remain prioritised according to accepted medical standards. The scale of the programme further demonstrates its publichealth value. Since its introduction, more than 646,000 Guyanese have b e n e f i t e d f r o m vouchersupported services, including 242,627 eye test vouchers, 225,595 spectacles vouchers, 24,418 HPV screening vouchers, and 153,490 universal healthcare laboratory vouchers. These services have achieved high coverage in several regions, with eyecare and spectacles programmes surpassing 70
percent coverage in Regions 1 and 3 and exceeding 80 percent in Regions 9 and 10. Such uptake reflects strong national demand for preventative services and demonstrates that the programme is expanding access, not restricting it. At the same time, Guyana’s public healthcare system is stronger, more technologically advanced, and more accessible today than at any point in the nation’s history. At the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Government has invested approximately $85.2 billion over the last five years in infrastructure, advanced medical equipment, specialist training, and service expansion. GPHC now delivers highvolume, highcomplexity care comparable to leading regional institutions. In the most recent reporting period, GPHC completed 14,728 surgeries and procedures, performed 2,096,646 laboratory tests, conducted 754 coronary angiograms, 413 coronary stent implantations, and 127 permanent pacemaker insertions, and delivered 23,755 ECGs and 2,856 echocardiograms. Gastroenterology services included 649 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, 259 colonoscopies, and 567 biopsy specimens, while nephrology services supported 1,182 haemodialysis patients, 4,234 dialysis sessions, and 1,137 haemodialysis admissions. These achievements reflect a modern tertiarycare
institution delivering advanced cardiac care, n e u r o s u r g e r y, j o i n t replacement, kidney transplantation, corneal transplantation, l a p a r o s c o p i c s u r g e r y, specialised mental health i n t e r v e n t i o n s , internationally accredited pathology services, electronic health records, advanced imaging, telemedicine, and robotic surgical capabilities. S i m u l t a n e o u s l y, Government continues to expand publicsector capacity through major investments at New Amsterdam Hospital, West Demerara Regional
Hospital, and more than 25 new health centres and posts nationwide. In 2025 alone, $143.2 billion was allocated to accelerate this transformation. These are not the actions of a Government weakening public healthcare; they represent the largest and most comprehensive healthcare investment in Guyana’s history. No patient is denied care because a voucher programme exists. On the contrary, the programme ensures that patients do not face unnecessary delays while publicsector capacity continues to expand. Many countries utilise
publicprivate partnerships to reduce waiting times and improve outcomes. Guyana is no different. The greatest inequity in healthcare is not where a service is provided, but whether a patient receives that service when it is needed. Delayed diagnoses and delayed treatment can have lifealtering consequences. The voucher programme exists precisely to prevent such outcomes while the public healthcare system undergoes historic expansion. Healthcare equity does not mean identical services in identical locations. It Continued on page 6
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Sunday August 30, 2026
Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox
Cost-of-Living DEAR EDITOR, In a letter by Ravin Singh in the Kaieteur News dated August 26, 2026 he condemns those who criticised President Irfan Ali for his comments in answer to the question what the government is doing to assist re: the rising cost-of-living. Any intelligent person would recognise the President did not answer the question but tried to
obfuscate. He claims the President’s response “was multi pronged t o u c h i n g o n e n e r g y, imported inflation” and according to Ravin “the main point of contention, a change in consumer behaviour. N o t h i n g i n I r f a n ’s responses address the question in a meaningful way. I am still trying ‘to figure out what energy, imported inflation and
change consumer behaviour have to do with the question. The President went on to expand on consumer behaviour and pointed to three observable changes. 1. Choosing to shop in supermarket as opposed to farmers’ market. 2, More Guyanese are now eating out more frequently and 3, A change in diet which is bourn out of consumption data. Number one are
supermarkets, the President did organise a few farmers market held for one day in a couple of locations. He failed to continue this policy. He says, “more persons today are shopping in the supermarket than were shopping four years ago”. Well first the government keeps sharing out licence to the Chinese for them to establish supermarkets every quarter mile which makes it convenient for shoppers. The prices as far as I am aware is not very different from the stalls in the markets and one does not have to spend time waiting and paying transportation, etc. The President said it is a cultural issue. However, they were instrumental in creating the “problem” that he says needs to be addressed. Definitely it is not a cultural issue but one of convenience. And this President who seems to be talking out of his hat says people instead of buying cassava and sweet potatoes from the market are now buying it in the supermarkets and the markup is high because of AC and cost overhead. Well, we may have a few of these supermarkets in the country but most of the supermarkets are Chinese and definitely, they have no ac with very little overheads. Also, these supermarkets definitely do not sell vegetables, fruits and greens. Then he talks of changing diet as indicated by consumption data. He should inform us about this survey. I believe he also pulled this one out of his hat. So, it seems he believes consumption change is causing inflation. I would agree diet change as some are eating less and finding it difficult to eat healthy as greens and meat is priced beyond the income of at least 50% of our population. Mr. President, there are homes where the parents can only give their children one little piece of chicken and plenty “surwa” and the
chicken is “once in a while”. Mr. President you have to address the rising cost-ofliving and tell us what you plan to do to assist as per the question that was asked and that you evaded. Instead, you said government has to address changing shopping pattern, the changing eating pattern. You mean this is all your government would do and nothing else? Ravin says, there was a deliberate campaign to misconstrue the President’s words to suggest that he meant Guyanese were ‘living above their means’ by shopping at supermarkets and eating out often”. I believe there was no misconstruing of what the President said as it was in response to a specific question and anyone who is not a troll for the government would see it this way. The president is correct in saying that more people are eating in restaurants etc. But this increase is definitely not from the bottom 70% of the population and most definitely not from the 50% that are in poverty. This segment of the population can be seen buying the paper bag food from the Chinese which they share among three or four persons. I read this comment over and over, Ravin says the president would “address” the issue of higher cost which is a consequence of consumer behaviour”. So, the blame is on whom Ravin? Nothing about the higher cost in general and as per question what would the government do to assist. According to Ravin, the action the government would take would be “redesigning aspects of the choice environment and we know this because the “President said so in his response to the journalist”. The president did say one of the issue is the “exorbitant profit the retailers are charging” because of huge mark up, referring to mark up by the middle men who purchase vegetables fruits and greens. What is the
government doing about this price gouging Mr. President. So, Mr. President what about the cost of groceries and clothing and rent which have gone through the roof. From where I stand the government has no clue. The President did put measures in place i.e removal of tax on fuel, which according to him put over 100b in the pocket of people but admitted afterwards that fares and transportation cost was not reduced so the better off benefitted. He then foolishly decided to pay the tolls for those who cross the Berbice Bridge and no tolls for the Demerara Bridge. Result, more people would cross so more to the two private investors who would receive more benefits and again this would benefit the better off. Truck owners a minimum of $120,000 a month and taxis at least $50,000 a month. It would also benefit other owners of vehicles. In two years the bridge would belong to us. So I find it incomprehensible. He gave cash and school grant to all, the rich and people who benefitted from the previous measures and the poor. Cash grants amounted to $205 a day excluding this year. Then he insults the people by mocking them. He told the Guyanese people cash grant for Christmas and he insulted them by saying if they behave themselves. On the other hand, the President is removing the cap on benefits for former Presidents, giving himself more while breaching his promises to the pensioners. So far nothing to directly help the most vulnerable and the poor. I am hoping a time would come when the working people would unite and ensure we have an alternative government that would look after the poor as Cheddi advocated. Yours respectfully, Rajendra Nauth Bisessar BSC sociology, LLB
MOH response to ‘SECOND... From page 5 means timely, appropriate care based on clinical need, without financial barriers. That is the principle underpinning the Ministry’s policies and programmes. The characterisation of Guyanese citizens as “second-class patients” because they benefit from programmes designed to improve
access does not reflect the reality of healthcare delivery in Guyana today. The Ministry of Health remains focused on one priority: ensuring that every Guyanese receives the quality healthcare they need, when they need it, regardless of their ability to pay. Anand Persaud, M.D., M.Sc., MPH
Sunday August 30, 2026
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Sunday August 30, 2026
The Road to First Oil - Every Man, Woman and Child must become oil-minded. Column 197 (August 30, 2026)
From 12.5% to Nearly 40% – How Long Can the Good Times Last? – Part 3 By Christopher Ram Having promised renegotiation and abandoned it on taking office, President Ali offered the country a substitute. The 2016 Agreement would stand, but it would be properly administered. He argued that as leader of a country governed by the rule of law, he was bound by the legal axiom of sanctity of contract. What he offered instead was that the whole of the operations would be thoroughly scrutinised, the finances of the oil companies subject to strict audits, and the national interest protected by good management. That was the bargain put to Guyanese in place of the one they were promised. Parts I and II asked how
much Guyana receives from Stabroek and how long the present position can hold. This part asks what becomes of the money once it arrives. Six years on that bargain can be tested, and the last fortnight has tested it. On 18 August, at a press conference at the Office of the President, Ali announced that Guyana’s share of Stabroek Block oil had risen from 12.5% to 39.8% because the cost bank had been recovered two years early. He described the earlier position in these words: “In terms of barrels, 75% of every hundred barrels produced went to cost recovery.” Seven days later the Ministry of Natural Resources published in the pro-Government Guyana Times a letter headed
“Guyana’s profit oil share has always been 50%”, which clarified that the 39.8% “is our share of every single barrel produced, before costs are taken out.” The letter, which bore no signature, disingenuously sought to blame the politician Sharma Solomon for causing confusion. In fact, it was correcting the President, who was as careless as he was uninformed. But the Ministry was not much better. Take its statement that the 75% cap only “limits how fast [costs] can be repaid”. It does nothing of the sort. It is the ceiling on costs which may be claimed in any one year, or put another way, the floor beneath profit oil in that year. Whether the contractors reached that
ceiling in any given year, and therefore whether 75 barrels in every hundred did go to cost recovery, is a question of fact which neither the President nor his Ministry has answered, because neither has ever published the figures. What these show is a President who does not understand the Agreement and a Ministry which cannot state correctly what the cost recovery ceiling does or how the ministerial audit works. There has been neither renegotiation nor administration, and there is confusion besides. Better contract administration was less a policy than an excuse by an administration which knew its own limitations and chose to proceed regardless, asking no help of anyone. Whether either can be trusted with the Agreement is a separate question, and this column comes to it. Let us look at another promise made and not kept, one that could have prevented or mitigated some of the dangers we are now facing. That is the Petroleum Commission. In April 2017 the APNU+AFC tabled a Bill in the National Assembly; it was referred to a Select Committee and died with the No Confidence Motion. The PPP/C came to office promising a Commission, and Mr Jagdeo committed to it explicitly and publicly at the consultation on the Local Content Bill on 13 December 2021. In 2026 there is no Bill, no draft and no timetable. Cost audits, technical compliance and environmental monitoring are only the regulatory part of what such a body would do. Properly constituted, it would be reading the market and putting informed advice b e f o r e t h e M i n i s t e r. Recruiting outside the Public Service is what buys engineers, cost auditors and lawyers the State cannot otherwise hold, testing production data against the operator’s own, examining cost claims as they are made rather than years later, and keeping the memory a Ministry loses at every change of government.
Instead, all of it rests with a Ministry answerable to the same Minister who deals with the companies obsequiously, and which has never troubled to master the mechanics of the Agreement or its own powers and duties under it. Unlike its inability to honour commitments made, the Ali Administration is adept at borrowing and spending. Domestic public debt has climbed from G$264.6 billion in 2020 to a projected G$1,245.1 billion this year, and external debt from US$1.320 billion to a projected US$4.355 billion. One thing they understood and acted on liberally raising the borrowing ceilings. From G$150 billion prior to 2021 to G$1,500 billion in 2024, and the external ceiling from G$400 billion to G$1,500 billion. Ten times and nearly four, respectively. Spending was a good companion. Capital expenditure was G$72 billion in 2020. The Public Sector Investment Programme for 2026 is G$779.6 billion, half the entire budget, and public spending between 2021 and 2025 came to some G$8.06 trillion. Savings moved in the opposition direction. The Natural Resource Fund Act 2021 allowed withdrawal of 100% of the first US$500 million of the previous year’s deposits, then 75%, 50%, 25% and 5% of each succeeding US$500 million, and 3% of anything above US$2.5 billion, so that the more the country earned the less of it could be spent. The Fiscal Enactments (Amendment) Act 2024 doubled the blocks to US$1 billion and raised the rates to 100%, 95%, 90%, 85% and 50%. On deposits of US$6 billion the old scale allowed US$1.38 billion out; the new one allows US$4.3 billion. Oh, and it has fixed the books in relation to the taxes paid for the oil companies. Then there is the Contingencies Fund, which exists for genuinely urgent, unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure. The Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act cap advances from it at two percent of the preceding
year ’s estimated expenditure. On a budget of G$1.558 trillion that two percent is now some G$30 billion. A ceiling written when the budget was a fraction of its present size has grown with it, and what was conceived as an emergency reserve is now a standing appropriation of thirty billion dollars a year, spent first and reported afterwards. Receiving its largest revenue in history, the Ali Administration rewrote the rule requiring it to save and raised the limits on the amounts it can borrow - both in the same year! It is no longer a case of having money and spending it. It is having money, spending it, and borrowing besides. Let me close this Part with a frightening thought. Many years ago, Distinguished Professor Clive Thomas put wastage and corruption at 20% of the Budget. I take that as a floor. Capital is now half the budget, and where infrastructure is paid for twice and lasts half as long, the loss on capital alone runs at a third or higher. On the basis of almost daily reports of corruption, the proliferation of discretionary expenditure, and Ali’s unwillingness to take corruption seriously, my own estimate is higher. But take the Professor’s figure and apply it to the G$4.19 trillion of central government current and capital expenditure between 2021 and 2025. That is G$838 billion lost. It would pay the entire running cost of the State for a year - every wage, every transfer, every pension, every hospital and every school - with change. And nobody can tell us whether the true figure is higher or lower, because every institution that might have counted it is compromised, captive or non-functional. To be continued
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
PAGE 09
Give the Commission a chance to do its preparatory work
T
h e r e i s a legitimate public concern about the pace at which the Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima tragedy is getting underway. Survivors, relatives of those who died and the wider Guyanese public understandably want answers. After such a devastating national tragedy, nobody should be surprised that every delay generates anxiety and questions. But there is an equally important principle that must not be lost in the understandable impatience for answers. That principle is that a Commission of Inquiry should be judged by the quality and independence of its work, not by the speed with which it holds public hearings. T h e r e c e n t announcement that the Commissioners are still in the planning phase and have not yet determined a date for hearings is certainly something the public should know. Transparency does not, by itself, constitute evidence that the inquiry is compromised, improperly structured or destined to protect the State. Planning and preparation
are important to a COI of this nature. A Commission dealing with a tragedy as complex as the MV Barima disaster cannot simply assemble its members, walk into a courtroom and announce, “Everybody ready? Let’s start.” There must be preparatory work involving documentary evidence, witness identification, legal procedures, logistics, terms of engagement, technical material and the organisation of hearings. Public hearings are only one part of the evidentiary process, not the sole means by which a Commission of Inquiry gathers information. Much of the critical evidence may come through documents, official records, expert reports, inspections, written statements and other material obtained during the Commission’s investigative work. The Commission includes a Caribbean jurist as Chairman, a naval architect and marine engineer, a senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor, an attorney with expertise in admiralty and maritime law, and a retired rear admiral with experience in maritime
operations and security. That combination suggests an attempt to bring legal, technical and operational expertise to a tragedy that requires considerably more than public hearings. It is equally premature to suggest that because the Commission was appointed by the President, it is somehow incapable of independently investigating the Executive. Presidential appointment is not, in itself, evidence of presidential control. The real test will be what the Commissioners do once the evidence begins to emerge. If they summon senior public officials, examine ministries, scrutinise regulatory agencies, investigate the condition and maintenance of the vessel, examine certification and inspection procedures, assess crew competence, investigate passenger capacity, examine communications and navigation and follow the documentary evidence wherever it leads, then the Commission will be doing precisely what it was established to do. But even as the Commission follows the
Dem Boys Seh...
Watch yuh mouth!
D
em boys notice whenever people driving and see an accident, especially a bad one, the first thing that does come out is not “Oh my!,” not “I hope everybody all right,” but a barrage of four-letter words or what we does call “curse words” or foul language. Recently, when a fatal accident occurred on the East Bank Public Road, somebody passing in a vehicle started videoing the scene. But before the camera could properly focus, the mouth had already gone into overdrive. Dem boys seh this is Guyana. We have enough problems already. We got potholes, traffic jams, reckless drivers, political arguments, crime, high prices and people who does drive like dem believe the road belong to dem father. Why we adding a soundtrack of expletives to the national crisis? ‘And some people cussing so naturally that if yuh ask dem what time it is, dem could probably answer you with three curse words and a direction.’ The problem is that children listening. Parents does tell children, “Watch yuh mouth!” But children watching everything else too. They watching parents. They listening to how adults speak when the traffic light refusing to change, when somebody cuts in front of the car, when the Wi-Fi slow, when the neighbour dog barking and when the electricity bill arrive. Then we wonder where the children learn it.
Change has to start in the home. Parents have to set a better example. And adults have to learn that they don’t have to remain in the company of people who use expletives as punctuation marks. If every sentence somebody speaks needs a curse word to hold it together, dem boys seh that sentence probably need an editor. Is only then we can pass on a good example to we parents. It remind dem boys of de story of Little Johnny. His Johnny’s parents were worried because the boy had developed a very colourful vocabulary. His father consulted a psychiatrist, who suggested a simple Christmas experiment. “Ask Johnny what he wants for Christmas,” the psychiatrist said. “Every time he uses a bad word, substitute what he wants with a pile of dog manure.” Christmas Eve came. Daddy asked, “Johnny, what would you like for Christmas?” Johnny gave a long and very enthusiastic list of toys—using language that would make the Christmas tree hide its ornaments. Christmas morning came. Johnny looked under the tree, in his room and in the garage. Everywhere he found the same gift: dog manure. His father asked, “So, Johnny, what did you get for Christmas?” Johnny looked around and said, “I think I got a puppy—but I can’t seem to find it!” Talk half. Leff half.
evidence wherever it leads, it is important to be clear about what its findings can and should establish—and what falls within the separate realm of political a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. A Commission of Inquiry is not a mechanism for automatically producing ministerial resignations. Nor should the absence of a ministerial resignation be treated as proof that an inquiry has failed. M i n i s t e r i a l responsibility is a serious constitutional and political matter. But a minister cannot reasonably be held personally responsible for every failure committed by every employee within a ministry or agency. To suggest otherwise would reduce ministerial responsibility to political liability without limits.
At the same time, if an inquiry uncovers evidence that political decisions, ministerial directives, or failures at the highest levels contributed to the tragedy, then the Commission must have the courage to say so. That is the standard by which it should ultimately be judged. The temptation to prejudge the outcome because another Commission did not produce the conclusions some people expected should be resisted. What Guyana needs now is not a Commission under political pressure to reach a predetermined destination. It needs a Commission sufficiently confident and independent to follow the evidence wherever it leads. If the Commission does that, Guyana will have gained something more
valuable than a report assigning blame. It will have gained an opportunity to understand how a tragedy of this magnitude occurred and, more importantly, how to prevent another one. The Commissioners should therefore be allowed to do their work. Let it prepare as it must. And let it follow the evidence. Let it ask the difficult questions. And when its work is completed, let Guyana judge it by the answers it produces — rather than by assumptions made before the first witness takes the stand. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Sunday August 30, 2026
From Jagdeo to Ali; from bad to worse Never thought I would ever reach this place. Bring back Bharrat Jagdeo. Never say never! It was inconceivable that there could be a worse leader than former president Jagdeo. I warned him seven years ago. A monster created. Would come back to haunt. It has. Peel back the layers. The former president has his wrinkles; they run deep. But, for every wrinkle that’s visible and speaks its own telling language, there’s Pres. Ali with his warts. Extraordinary, aren’t they? Puts Dr. Jagdeo down, reduces him to a beginner. The vice president’s
circle of friends and family is small and tight. Known for its penetration in government’s affairs. The president has an army that marches in broad formation, eats off the environment, sucks the moisture from the atmosphere. The media is overworked from reporting its advances high and low, many spheres local. Crack the hard shell that’s Dr. Jagdeo. There’s a leader that gives a sometimes decent, often too hostile, reception to questions about issues that trouble Guyanese. He does try to rationalise his positions, to some extent.
When it’s convenient. Come across as reasonable. In contrast, Pres. Ali’s standard practice is to ram home his position, and leave Guyanese to speculate on what has overtaken him. Apparently, he sees himself as the voice of God, possessing the disposition of an angel, a fount of wisdom that tolerates no contradiction. His reward is a population-increasingly agitated and impatient segments of it - that sees in their president a figure of mystery, one with an intriguing history, and someone with whom they
wouldn’t want to be at the border, should the temperature get intolerably warmer there. Pres. Ali could care less. A man who sees he is of the people and for the people, yet one with a deep deficit. He hasn’t the faintest idea of how the Guyanese people manage from day-to-day, actually exist beyond the cameras and microphones; his echoes. For his part, Excellency Jagdeo was a leader who mended the occasional fence, left some alone. Pres. Ali never saw a fence that he didn’t want to kick down and runover the people who ask: sir, what happened to the clothes? Undoubtedly, the vice president compiled political smarts, street smarts, and the smartness of public restraint. Pres. Ali would have none of that, appointing himself to be the father of all that is smart. A man who knows what he is doing. He alone. No one else has such insights,
dare mutter anything that’s different, that confronts his selfpromotions and selfcongratulations. There’s a price for that, some deteriorations, which I deduce to be one of the unfortunate attachments that accompany power. Too often, power goes to the head of some, introduces high levels of turbulence that can’t be avoided. Can’t be managed. Can’t be concealed. On his worst day, take a look at Dr. Jagdeo. He still had something that held him in check, that cautioned ‘don’t go there.’ Regrettably, the same cannot be said of Pres. Ali. A leader that revels in excess. Having stretched himself so thin, the hollowness within lights up in the manner of a full body scan. One taken with contrast; and with images displayed in brilliant colour. In the early days, when he was largely unknown, many Guyanese had many
good things to say of him, to expect of him. When the environment became overloaded from the tramping feet and weight of Pres. Ali’s army, people changed. The only ones who cheer him now in public, are those who collect an envelope for their time and effort. Excellency Jagdeo is still going, and wherever he goes, he is sure to draw a small crowd. In going, I give Guyanese this message. Pres. Ali has youth on his side. His difficulty is that people now see through him (including a horrified Jagdeo). He has run out of time. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Police recover 9mm pistol and eight rounds of ammunition at Sage Pond
The 9mm pistol and matching rounds found at Sage Pond Detectives in Regional Division 4B have launched an investigation following the discovery of a 9mm pistol and eight rounds of ammunition concealed in bushes near the Sage Pond Police Outpost. The discovery followed an incident on Friday, August 28, 2026, at about 23:20hrs, when ranks on a police operation received information that a goldcoloured, 41 Zone minibus travelling along the Heroes Highway was allegedly transporting illegal items. The ranks proceeded to the highway and intercepted the minibus in the vicinity of Forrester Place, along the dumpsite road. The driver
and approximately 25 occupants — including men, women, and children — were escorted to the Sage Pond Police Outpost, where searches were conducted. “No illegal items were found during the search of the minibus or its occupants. Some female occupants were subsequently permitted to use a washroom at the rear of the outpost before the vehicle and occupants were allowed to leave,” the Guyana Police Force said on Saturday. Police later received information that a firearm had allegedly been thrown into the area behind the outpost by a Guyanese woman, who appeared to be
pregnant and had earlier requested to use the washroom. At about 00:23hrs on August 29, police ranks searched the area and discovered a black Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, with its serial number intact, concealed in bushes approximately two to three feet from the outpost. The firearm was found with a magazine containing eight live hollow-point rounds of ammunition. The scene was processed and photographed by crime scene ranks, and the firearm, magazine, and ammunition were marked, sealed, and lodged as investigations continue.
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
Govt. mum 15 days after MV Barima salvage tender closes - Mahipaul Fifteen days after the deadline passed for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to salvage the sunken MV Barima, the Government of Guyana faces continued criticism over its failure to release basic details about the procurement process or the timeline for recovery operations. Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul issued a critique on Saturday, calling out the administration’s continued silence following one of the most tragic maritime disasters in the nation’s history. The state-owned, 87year-old ferry capsized and sank off Guyana’s coast near Iron Punt/Pomeroon River on July 18, 2026, resulting in 73 confirmed deaths and approximately 30 passengers still missing. Despite official promises by the President that “no stone will be left unturned” in the aftermath of the
Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul tragedy, no public updates have been provided regarding the submitted bids, shortlisted firms, or the official schedule for raising the vessel. According to Mahipaul, formal correspondence submitted to the Minister responsible for Public Works and Aviation requesting clarification has gone
unanswered. Questions surrounding the salvage operation remain unaddressed by maritime and procurement authorities, including the total number of companies that submitted EOIs, how many firms met the preliminary technical evaluation criteria, whether a contractor has been shortlisted or formally engaged, and the precise date physical recovery efforts are expected to commence at the wreck site. The delay has intensified frustration among grieving relatives and local communities still seeking closure following the loss of life. “This is not an ordinary procurement exercise,” Mahipaul stated, emphasising that the lack of transparency disrespects the memory of the victims and prolongs the distress of surviving family members. He characterised the ongoing lack of communication as
PNCR rejects AG’s ‘premature’ claims over Lethem property verdict The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has formally rejected the Attorney General’s characterisation of a High Court ruling delivered on August 24, 2026, regarding its regional headquarters at Lethem, describing the judgment as erroneous in both law and fact, and confirming that an appeal will be lodged. The opposition party’s stance follows a statement from the Attorney General’s Chambers portraying the decision as a vindication of the Government’s actions. The PNCR stressed that the ruling remains a decision of a court of first instance and is subject to full appellate review, warning that the Government’s celebration is “premature.” Central to the dispute is the High Court’s determination that the PNCR occupied the Lethem premises as a “licensee,” and that this licence was subsequently revoked by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). The PNCR pushed back against this finding, highlighting that the Court itself accepted that the evidence relied upon by the State could not identify who granted the alleged permission, when it was given, or under what terms the party entered into occupation. Despite these missing details, the Court proceeded to infer permissive occupation. The PNCR noted that it entered into continuous occupation of the site in the 1970s — a decade before the RDC was established in 1980. The party also pointed to an internal contradiction in the State’s position, noting that while the Attorney General’s press release claimed the PNCR occupied the property “without permission from the State,” it simultaneously cited the Court’s finding that the occupation was based on “permission granted by the State.” The appeal will also challenge the application of sections 44 and 46 of the Local Government Act, Cap. 28:02. The PNCR contended that since no party produced a
…says will appeal transport, certificate of title, or other instrument establishing legal title, the statutory provisions alone could not substitute for evidence proving the property was legally vested in the RDC. Serious procedural concerns have also been raised by the opposition. According to the judgment, no Defence was filed by the First, Second, or Fourth Defendants, nor did they call evidence at trial after an initial Defence filed by the Attorney General on their behalf was struck out. The PNCR argued that making findings against those Defendants without a pleaded Defence deprives the Claimant of fair notice and a proper opportunity to reply. Beyond the proprietary claims, the lawsuit addresses the forced dispossession of the party, including the entry of Government officials, the demolition of portions of the building, the removal of party property, and the involvement of the Guyana Police Force. The PNCR argued that the Court failed to give proper weight to these constitutional dimensions and to the decades-long duration of its peaceful occupation. The party was particularly critical of the Court’s conclusion that the RDC was entitled to recover possession through self-help, without obtaining a court order. The PNCR will invite the appellate court to determine whether a public authority can lawfully resort to self-help to dispossess a long-standing political organisation, rather than invoking the judicial process. Reiterating its respect for the judicial process, the PNCR maintained that exercising its constitutional right to appeal is standard procedure when a judgment contains fundamental errors, and urged the Government to refrain from presenting a firstinstance ruling as the final word.
unacceptable administrative neglect. Government officials and representatives from the Ministry of Public Works have not yet issued an official response to the inquiries or announced when details on the contract award will be made public.
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WEEK-IN-REVIEW SUNDAY ExxonMobil walks away with almost three times Guyana’s debt without being audited …as US$26.5B in bills still to be verified A pool of money so large that it triples the size of Guyana’s national debt has been pocketed by U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil for its investments in the Stabroek Block, but the country is yet to ensure that the company did not try to inflate any of those expenses paid for with the nation’s oil. It was recently revealed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Exxon, Darren Woods that the company has recovered a staggering US$55B using Guyana’s oil. This accounts for all of the company’s investment and operational costs according to him. Oil-rich Guyana is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that it checks the expenses incurred by the operator to ensure the prices it paid for goods and services met industry benchmarks and aligned with costs that can be recovered in keeping with the terms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/23/exxonmo bil-walks-away-withalmost-three-timesguyanas-debt-withoutbeing-audited/ Risk-free Stabroek Block operations not enough for Pres. Ali to renegotiate lopsided deal Although risks have been removed from the Stabroek Block with all US$55B investments recovered by ExxonMobil, the Government of Guyana (GoG) is still refusing to engage the company for a renegotiation of the lopsided agreement which is permitted under the 2016 Petroleum Agreement. During a press conference on Tuesday, President Irfaan Ali was asked by this newspaper whether he would request a renegotiation of the deal given that the operations are now risk-free. In his presentation, the President revealed that ExxonMobil had recouped
President Irfaan Ali
Photo showing the incomplete nature of the Port Kaituma stelling. all of its investments, positioning the country to now receive 39.8% of profits, compared with the previous 12.5% share. Against this backdrop, Chartered Accountant and Attorney, Christopher Ram recently opined that the time has now come for the country to renegotiate the Exxon contract. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/23/risk-freestabroek-blockoperations-not-enoughfor-pres-ali-torenegotiate-lopsided-deal/ MONDAY ‘Guyana is the place to be, world class mining area’ – new Australian gold firm The newest foreign company to enter Guyana’s gold sector, Australianbased Liberty Metals, has touted Guyana as a jurisdiction of choice for mineral exploration, citing its geological prospectivity, legal framework and straightforward permitting process. The company also highlighted its ability to secure a large, contiguous mining package in what it described as a world-class area. On August 12, Liberty announced that it had acquired a 90% interest in the Oko North and Oko South Gold Projects, a package of 40 granted medium-scale mining permits covering approximately 180 square kilometres (km²) in Guyana’s Oko gold district, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) – an area where nine million ounces of gold have already been established by other foreign players. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/24/guyanais-the-place-to-be-world-
class-mining-area-newaustralian-gold-firm/ Grief, protests, and a G$1.4B abandoned wharf …Duncan demands Edghill’s resignation More than a month after the fatal MV Barima disaster, grieving families across Guyana are still weeping daily for lost loved ones, left with empty hands and hollow answers while Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and the central government continue to act as business as usual. Weekly public protests continue to rage, echoing a singular, relentless demand across the country: Edghill must go. Against this backdrop of raw public grief and state apathy, opposition shadow public works minister Sherod Duncan returned on Sunday, August 23, to the site of the G$1.4 billion Port Kaituma stelling, revealing that the facility remains at a complete standstill, in what can only be described as a monument to ministerial failure that, along with the
high airfare travel cost, directly forced hinterland residents onto an unsafe, aging vessel. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/24/griefp ro t e s t s - a n d - a - g 1 - 4 b abandoned-wharf/ TUESDAY Govt. still to decide whether to punish gas-to-energy contractor for delays in project …setback costs Guyana US$884M and counting Lindsayca Guyana Inc, the company that was initially awarded a US759M contract by the Government of Guyana (GoG) to deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity by the end of 2024 has failed consistently to meet promised deadlines with the project now expected to deliver a fraction of power by the end of 2026. The delays have resulted in multimillion US-dollars losses for Guyana as the country’s rapid expansion continues to demand increased electricity supply. While the company Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed as he was detained.
pushes to meet another deadline, the GoG is still deciding whether the contractor will face any penalties if it fails again to deliver power to the country by the end of the year. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/25/govt-stillt o - d e c i d e - w h e t h e r- t o punish-gas-to-energycontractor-for-delays-inproject/ WEDNESDAY Guyana must build refinery to guard against global shocks …as oil-producing nation still heavily dependent on imported fuel to meet energy demand – Pres. Ali says To guard against external shocks and position Guyana for greater economic benefits from its oil industry, President Irfaan Ali has stated that Guyana must have an oil refinery, along with adequate fuel storage capacity to strengthen the country’s energy security. During his recent press conferences, Ali underscored that there are certain factors over which governments have no control, particularly developments in the global environment and international energy markets. “The global environment and imported inflation. Now, look at what’s happening in the global environment. We produce crude oil, but we import all refined oil, our gasoline and everything. So we import back all the price differentials. Since the war, you know what has been happening,” he noted. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/26/guyanamust-build-refinery-toguard-against-globalshocks/
Opposition Leader released on $100k bail following Demerara River standoff with police Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed has been released on $100,000 bail following a six-hour maritime standoff on the Demerara River that saw Joint Services ranks intercept a vessel carrying opposition figures at Friendship, East Bank Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that MP Natasha Singh-Lewis is also being released on $200,000 bail after being taken into custody at the Farm Police Station during the early h o u r s o f We d n e s d a y morning. According to official releases from the Guyana Police Force and GDF Coast Guard, ranks on maritime patrol around 21:45 hrs on Tuesday spotted a ‘go-fast’ vessel entering the Demerara River at high speed. Authorities claim the vessel ignored sirens, prompting a pursuit to a Friendship wharf, during which ranks reported observing “a bag being thrown from the vessel into the Demerara River.” Joint Services confirmed Mohamed and several colleagues were aboard or at the scene, and search efforts for the missing bag remain ongoing. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/26/oppositio n - l e a d e r- re l e a s e d - o n 100k-bail-followingdemerara-river-standoffwith-police/ THURSDAY Food prices fuel Guyana’s inflation …as IDB flags 5.9% surge Food prices remain a major driver of inflation in Guyana, with the InterContinued on page 13
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
From page 12 American Development Bank (IDB) reporting a 5.9 percent increase in food prices in early 2026. In its Caribbean Economics Quarterly: Volume 16, Issue 2 – Fiscal Resilience, Debt Reduction, and Domestic Resource Mobilisation in the Caribbean, the IDB reported that Guyana’s inflation stood at 2.9 percent year-over-year at the end of 2025. It adds that while costs of miscellaneous items rose markedly during the period, it stated that the average consumer price level was underpinned by a further increase in the price of food, which the report says “has had the greatest impact on inflation.” Food prices in 2025 rose by 4.4 percent, medical care by 4.9 percent, and miscellaneous items by 6.8 percent. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/27/foodprices-fuel-guyanasinflation/
ad that made my blood boil,” Lall said. “GGMC the very agency responsible for granting licenses and gold permits to local and foreign companies, and overseeing our mineral sector to ensure Guyana collects the pennies, put out an advertisement asking people to donate used clothing and shoes to help our brothers and sisters living in the mining districts.” Lall said he had to read the advertisement twice because of how unbelievable it was to think a resourcerich nation like Guyana would have to resort to used clothes and footwear to donate to its people. “The agency overseeing one of the richest gold sectors in this part of the world…Is begging for second-hand clothes and
with completing the review, VHE Consulting. In a letter to the editor this week, the Ministry of Natural Resources defended its months-long silence on the massive audit conducted by the multi-national corporation. According to the MNR, “Outcomes will be reported once they are final; that silence protects your interests, it does not hide anything from you.” The ministry made it clear that it would not announce its position while a “dispute is still open” as this would “only weaken our own hand and could cost the country money.” To this end, government asserted that it would not negotiate the ongoing audits in the public domain. The statement comes from government amid a total
GGMC puts out ad begging for donations of used clothes, shoes for residents in gold rich communities …while foreigners fetching out US $billions in gold – Glenn Lall The Irfaan Ali administration has come under criticism after Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) announced a “gently used clothing and footwear” drive to be donated to families in need particularly those that live in mineral-rich regions where about 15 foreign companies are gearing up to extract the country’s mineral wealth. In fact, businessman and Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall has sharply criticised the move drawing the nexus of the country’s economic status that government often spotlights and a state-agency resorting to used clothes drive to support vulnerable families. During a recent radio programme, Lall criticised the initiative, arguing that the need for used clothing in communities located in Guyana’s mineral-rich interior raises questions about how much of the wealth generated from the country’s resources is benefitting those communities. “This morning I saw an
used shoes for people living in the communities where this mineral wealth is coming out from. Ohhh my God… I know you who are watching and listening, I only hope you will help to wake up this sleeping nation,” he noted. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/27/ggmcputs-out-ad-begging-fordonations-of-used-clothesshoes-for-residents-ingold-rich-communities/ FRIDAY ‘Silence on Exxon audit reports is good for Guyana’ …as Govt. defends keeping nation in the dark The Government of Guyana (GoG) has been silent on the outcome of a US$19.6B audit of ExxonMobil for over a year since it received the report by the local consortium tasked
blackout of information on the sector with updates scarcely provided unless requested and in most instances after the oil giant first makes disclosures to its shareholders. For instance, a major milestone was achieved this year when ExxonMobil recovered all of its investments made to date in Guyana. The news was not immediately shared with Guyanese. Instead, the company made the announcement to its shareholders during an earnings call. For close to three weeks, government did not address the announcement but later called a press conference to confirm the news. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/28/silenceon-exxon-audit-reports-isgood-for-guyana-as-govtdefends-keeping-nationin-the-dark/
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APNU MP, Sharma Solomon ‘Don’t be fooled by Guyana’s 40% profit share’ …Ram warns bigger payouts still don’t make Exxon deal fair With much of ExxonMobil’s expenses already recovered, Guyana is now enjoying a greater share of revenue from the Stabroek Block, but this flow is not permanent and certain factors can again result in the country receiving less money from its resources offshore. Highlighting this was Chartered Accountant and Attorney Christopher Ram in his most recent oil and gas column published on his website. In part two of the series examining the US$55B recovered by Exxon and its implications on Guyana, Ram explained that the sudden increase in revenue for Guyana does not change the lopsided nature of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). “The royalty remains 2%; profit oil continues to be divided equally; and the cost-recovery, tax and stabilisation provisions remain…much of the early expenditure has been recovered, the risks have diminished considerably, yet the fiscal terms remain essentially those agreed in 2016. There is therefore no contradiction between welcoming Guyana’s greatly increased revenues and continuing to regard the Agreement as inequitable. A modest share of an enormously profitable enterprise can still produce a very large cheque; the size of the cheque does not establish the fairness of the bargain,” he pointed out. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/28/dont-befooled-by-guyanas-40profit-share-ram-warnsbigger-payouts-still-dont-
make-exxon-deal-fair/ SATURDAY Guyanese must see ExxonMobil disputed audit cost …as secrecy undermines accountability – MP Solomon A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Sharma Solomon has ripped into the argument by the Government of Guyana (GoG) that secrecy on the audits of ExxonMobil protects the interest of citizens. In a response to a letter to the editor, by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the MP argued that “silence is not protection. It is a failure of accountability by this government!” He said that government “wants Guyanese to believe that its silence on the US$19.6 billion ExxonMobil audit is somehow protecting the national interest. That argument does not stand up to scrutiny. Silence is not transparency, and keeping Guyanese who are owners of the nation’s oil in the dark is not a strategy for protecting their interests.” Solomon reminded that the third and largest audit of ExxonMobil was completed over a year ago; yet, Guyanese still do not have an understanding of what the team discovered, what costs have been challenged and accepted, the amount rejected and what is currently in dispute. On the other hand, he argued that the oil giant continues to release key information to its shareholders while Guyanese are last to learn of these developments involving their resources from an overseas company. The MP pointed out that previous audits of the
company have already demonstrated why government scrutiny matters. He said, “The first audit examined approximately US$1.7 billion and identified about US$214.4 million in disputed expenses. The second examined approximately US$7.2 billion and identified another US$65.1 million that government did not accept. Now we have an audit covering approximately US$19.6 billion, and Guyanese are being told to wait while government negotiates behind closed doors.” R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/29/guyanesemust-see-exxonmobildisputed-audit-cost/ Canawaima back in service after days-long ban The M.V. Canawaima resumed its cross-border ferry service between Guyana and Suriname on Friday, following the official lifting of an operational ban imposed by Surinamese maritime regulators. The vessel returned to service on Friday, 28th August, after undergoing technical inspections and satisfying structural compliance standards established by the Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS). The resumption brings an end to several days of disruption along the vital legal transit corridor connecting Moleson Creek, Corentyne, to South Drain, Suriname. Authorities confirmed t h a t t o d a y ’s p r i m a r y operational focus is clearing the backlog of passengers stranded on both sides of the border during the temporary shutdown. The resumption brings an end to several days of disruption along the vital legal transit corridor connecting Moleson Creek, Corentyne, to South Drain, Suriname. Authorities confirmed that today’s primary operational focus is clearing the backlog of passengers stranded on both sides of the border during the temporary shutdown. R e a d m o r e : https://kaieteurnewsonline .com/2026/08/29/canawai ma-back-in-service-afterdays-long-ban/
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
No meaningful improvement in power generation since addition of 1.5 MW - Linden Mayor Mayor of the Mining Town of Linden, Dominique Blair, on Friday said there has been no meaningful improvement in the electricity situation in his municipality since the additional 1.5 MW was recently added, while providing an update on the matter. “Communities are still experiencing blackouts as of recent. The company [BOSAI] is still operating a load-shedding schedule. So, we have not seen any meaningful improvement since the addition
of this 1.5 megawatts,” Mayor Blair revealed. On August 23, this publication reported that the mining town of Linden had received an additional 1.5 MW in generator capacity to boost power supply for communities served by BOSAI, as peak demand continues to rise. The update was provided by BOSAI’s Linden management to Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar and was confirmed in a statement on the Ministry’s Facebook page.
“Installation works, including transformer and fuel-line connections, are underway. The unit is expected to begin generating power by the middle of next week,” the statement said. On August 17, Kaieteur News reported that rolling blackouts, public frustration, and a breakdown in municipal energy planning had pushed Linden to the brink of protests, forcing the Mayor and Town Council to call an emergency town hall meeting amid questions over who truly benefits from the region’s heavily subsidised electricity. The crisis erupted after severe load shedding was triggered by generation trips at Bosai Minerals Group Guyana (BOSAI), which occurred when local power consumption exceeded the 14-megawatt (MW) ceiling set under the current Power Purchase Agreement between the Government of Guyana, Bosai, and the Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI). Speaking to Kaieteur News, Mayor Blair described a widening gap between the town’s energy capacity and its growing demand, noting that while the original agreement provided only 8 MW, the current 14 MW supply has proven inadequate for the municipality’s needs. “And they have proposed a schedule because they’re claiming that it is the
Mayor of the Mining Town of Linden, Dominique Blair sawmillers… When we started off, we had an MOU with both sides, that both sides would give us eight megawatts. Currently, both sides give us 14 megawatts, and that is not enough for the community presently,” Mayor Blair said. The mayor raised concerns over conflicting accounts of what — or who — is causing the grid collapse, pointing to heavy industrial sawmills and a lack of regulatory oversight. He also questioned government assurances regarding a local solar farm expected to come online by December, stating that the public remains in the dark regarding trial periods and distribution plans.
Govt. seeking contractors to build Soesdyke, Skeldon & Port Mourant Markets The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is inviting bids for the construction of three more market facilities, this time at Soesdyke Junction on the East Bank of Demerara, and at Skeldon and Port Mourant in Region Six. According to the advertisement, which was i s s u e d o n M o n d a y, construction of the Soesdyke market will be done in five lots, while the projects at Skeldon and Port Mourant will each comprise six lots. Bids for the projects are expected to open on September 17, 2026, at the office of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board
(NPTAB). The Soesdyke, Skeldon, and Port Mourant facilities are the latest market projects being undertaken by the ministry and will form part of the $41.9 billion budgetary allocation it received in this year’s budget. As previously reported, construction of these market facilities follows a series of site visits conducted by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand since her appointment last year, during which she and her team assessed conditions at markets nationwide and engaged directly with
vendors about the challenges they face. With approximately 30 public markets across Guyana, the ministry has been working to implement a standardised model for market infrastructure and management. Priority areas include cleanliness and sanitation, clear walkways, effective waste management, reliable roofing, lighting, water access, and washroom facilities. The model also calls for stronger security and fire safety measures, timely repairs, improved vendor-council relations, support for small businesses, and a more welcoming environment for the community. Markets slated for upgrades under this initiative include those in Buxton, Plaisance, Zeelugt, Tuschen, New Amsterdam, Skeldon, and Soesdyke Junction, among others. Some market projects have already been awarded, and construction has commenced. These include the new $388 million Buxton Market on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and the rehabilitation of the East Ruimveldt Market in Georgetown, which will cost $528,370,300.
Sunday August 30, 2026
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Kaieteur News
‘Guyanese must get bigger share of new oil projects’ ...Norton says risks to investors have already been removed Now that ExxonMobil has recovered all of its investments for the seven approved projects to date, Guyana’s profit share increased from 12.5% to 39.8%, a significant jump that could again slide if further projects are approved under existing conditions. Cognizant of this, leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton said future projects should yield more fiscal benefits for the country as the Stabroek Block has been derisked. D u r i n g t h e p a r t y ’s weekly press conference on Friday, Norton reasoned that the first agreement in 1999 was designed to attract investments and was successful in doing so. He noted that the existing 2016 contract with Exxon allows the contractor to produce hydrocarbons with the operator being allowed to
recover costs up to 75% of oil each month, with a fiscal package for the country that includes 2% royalty and 50% profits share after expenses are deducted by the contractor. With seven oil projects already approved and paid for, ExxonMobil is pursuing the development of at least two more that can reduce the country’s profit share again if the Government of Guyana (GoG) does not change the current arrangements. It could implement a ring-fencing provision to ensure that Exxon does not shorten Guyana’s profits to pay for the projects. In this regard Norton explained, “There are going to be new agreements now, and I think they should reflect the present state of affairs. We have paid off the initial investment and we should not now be tied to that
Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton
old agreement in future investments.” President Irfaan Ali recently told reporters that the GoG will seek expert advice on financing arrangements for future projects. To this end, Norton suggested, “We should get the expert advice and come
up with new contracts, to ensure that yes, Exxon recovers on those but that we get a fair share and that it is treated as if the resource is the Guyanese patrimony.” The leader continued, “I am not one who is disposed to us utilising the old mechanism moving forward. We should develop new
modalities and mechanisms to move forward that allow us to benefit significantly. Now, it’s not a case in 1999, when we started, and the government agreed to 1%, and then in 2016, we increased it to 2%. There were still risks. But there are now no risks of them not finding oil.” He was adamant that the country already knows it has at least 11.6B barrels of oil so future projects must reflect these circumstances. In fact, he warned that Guyana must ensure that it does become a country where it has nothing by the time its resources are depleted. To this end, Norton opined that “bad agreements” and mismanagement of resources by government could prevent this from happening. “One of my big concerns, I want our income to increase but if you increase
income with thief men, you still ain’t gon get, and so there must be an obligation on the part of the government to negotiate and ensure there is benefit, and to take the measures to get rid of corruption (or) to reduce corruption, because you can get the world of income and if for every $10B, $6B going to ministers and their cronies and they set up mega farms and do all that they’re doing, then the people w o u l d n ’t b e n e f i t , ” h e explained. Norton emphasised the need for resources to be reallocated to benefit Guyanese as he pointed to his party’s recent manifesto that provides a blueprint for citizens to enjoy a better quality of life from their resources. The leader reminded that he previously threw his support behind ring-fencing the future projects.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
Campbelltown gets new $15M health centre
The newly commissioned Campbelltown Health Centre in Region Eight. The new Siemens digital X-ray system which was commissioned at the Mahdia District Hospital.
The new Oxygen Generator Room at the Mahdia Hospital.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony recently commissioned a new $15 million health centre in Campbelltown Village, Region Eight. According to the Health Ministry, the minister and his team visited Region Eight to commission several health facilities in the area. Among the highlights of the visit was the official commissioning of the $15 million health centre, which is equipped with the necessary amenities to provide quality primary healthcare services to residents of Campbelltown and surrounding communities. The Health Ministry said the facility forms part of its ongoing efforts to improve access to essential healthcare services, particularly for residents of hinterland and remote communities. Following the ceremony, Minister Anthony visited the Mahdia Hospital, where he inspected several key investments aimed at enhancing the facility’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities. While there, he commissioned the hospital’s Oxygen Generator Room, valued at approximately $13.985 million, which will strengthen the facility’s capacity to provide a reliable supply of medical oxygen for patients requiring respiratory and emergency care. He also commissioned a new Siemens digital X-ray system at the hospital, valued at approximately $160 million. The ministry noted that the introduction of digital X-ray services represents a significant improvement in the hospital’s diagnostic capacity, allowing healthcare professionals to better assess and manage patients within the region. As part of the visit, the minister commissioned the Mahdia Rehabilitation Department, valued at approximately $14 million. According to the ministry, the department will expand access to rehabilitation services for persons recovering from injuries, illnesses, and other conditions requiring rehabilitative care, reducing the need for patients to travel outside the region to access these essential services. “These investments underscore the Government of Guyana’s commitment to modernising healthcare delivery across the country and ensuring that residents, regardless of their geographic location, have greater access to quality, reliable and comprehensive health services,” the ministry said.
Sunday August 30, 2026
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Kaieteur News
The
Guyanese-born beauty, Netu Lal
makes history as Miss Eco International Canada
The moment that Guyanese-born, Netu Lal captured the Miss Eco International Canada crown.
Camille Academy students ace competition, earn spots at all-girls summer camp in Miami, FL.
My Ashley Gupta, aspiring neurosurgeon, aces CXC at just 13
Camille Academy students Bhanie Rafick, Renata Bhagwandin and Mariah Seenarine attended all girls summer camp in Miami
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
For Diana Morris, beauty has never been just about appearance. She believes beauty is found in confidence, creativity and the experiences that shape us. This week's featured belle is a marketing professional who is passionate about photography and travel, and both have taught her to appreciate the beauty in people, places, and moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her love for photography started as a creative passion and has grown into a meaningful part of her life. She said, “I love being behind the camera, capturing personalities and telling stories through images, but I also enjoy being in front of the camera and experiencing photography from the other side of the lens.” Makeup: Beats by Mark by Mark Junor African Design: Wanza's Designs by Mwanza Glen Photography: Pose and Pixel
Diana Morris
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
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Haiti after Kenscoff: Pledges and Promises Do Not Stop the Killing By Sir Ronald Sanders
F
or generations, Kenscoff was where people from Port-au-Prince went to breathe. Its cool hills offered relief, and its farmers s u p p l i e d t h e c a p i t a l ’s markets. Gang attacks reached the commune in January 2025, but it remained an important barrier between gangcontrolled territory and Pétion-Ville. On the night of 23 August, the Viv Ansanm coalition launched its largest attack on the community so far. The United Nations says at least 47 people were killed and 22 injured, including five children. Twenty-two people were reportedly executed inside a church compound where they had sought shelter, and more than 50 others were abducted. It was one of the largest mass kidnappings Haiti has suffered in recent years. Kenscoff was not a failure of diagnosis or planning. The danger was known, security machinery existed and international assistance had been promised. It was a failure to act in time and with sufficient strength. That failure now has names, bodies and grieving families attached to it. Kenscoff’s Mayor, Jean Massillon, said gang reconnaissance drones had been seen over the town 15 days before the attack. Yet the warning did not produce the protection required. After the massacre, the chief prosecutor, Fritz Patterson Dorval, said eight armoured vehicles were in the area. Armoured vehicles protect no one if they are not where they are needed when gunmen arrive. The slaughter at Kenscoff was not an isolated act. On 25 August, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti reported that, between April and June, at least 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured. Kidnappings rose from 57 in the previous quarter to 81. Fighting in Cité Soleil and the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac displaced more than 18,000 people. During the same period, the United Nations documented 796 victims of gang-related rape: 772 women, 23 girls and one man. They ranged in age
from ten to seventy-one. Eighty-seven per cent were raped by more than one attacker, sometimes in the presence of their children or other relatives. In several cases, their homes were looted and burned. The report also raises serious questions about the conduct of the security forces. Forty per cent of those killed or injured during the quarter were victims of security operations against gangs. Twelve per cent of them had no gang association, including children struck by bullets or drone explosions. The United Nations says it has received no information that investigations have been opened into these deaths and injuries. On 25 August, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Kenscoff massacre and called for those responsible to be brought to justice through the specialised judicial units established with international support. No one doubts the sincerity of that statement. But condemnation has become the cheapest commodity in the international system. Haitians want to know which government will put an aircraft, a vehicle, an investigator or a prosecutor behind the words. Kenscoff has exposed the central weakness of the Gang Suppression Force. It exists in mandate, but lacks the numbers and reach required to protect the Haitian people. The United Nations Security Council authorised 5,550 personnel. In July, only about 1,000 were in Haiti. Jack Christofides, the Special Representative for the Force, told the Security Council that its headquarters, rules of engagement, intelligence structures and first forward operating base had been established, and regular patrols and initial operations had begun. These preparations do not amount to the operational strength required to confront gangs across several regions of Haiti. T h e F o r c e ’s i n i t i a l authorisation expires on 30 September, yet it remains far short of its authorised strength. Personnel, equipment and money have been promised, but promises do not secure communities.
Countries with strategic airlift capacity must help move pledged contingents and their equipment to Haiti. A soldier pledged by a country but left at home cannot protect a family in Kenscoff. Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said of the international force and Haitian police: “They don’t have enough personnel.” He is right. One thousand personnel cannot protect Delmas, Tabarre, Cité Soleil, the Artibonite, Mirebalais a n d K e n s c o f f simultaneously. The gangs understand the arithmetic. They stretch the security forces by attacking communities where the State is already weak. Even a fully deployed force will not succeed if the ground it recovers cannot be held by Haitian institutions. Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, told the UN Security Council in July that Haiti is facing “a governance crisis, driven by organised crime”. She warned that, without functioning courts, prisons, police institutions and financial investigations, security gains would be temporary. From 16 to 19 August, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, led a high-level delegation to Haiti. It included CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett and representatives of the United Nations, the Pan American Health Organization and international financial institutions. Ramdin returned with an unambiguous message: the Gang Suppression Force needs more personnel, financing, logistical support and operational capacity, and progress must become “visible and measurable as soon as possible”. As this Commentary is written, the Permanent Council of the OAS is due to consider how the organization can support Haiti. The Council must not receive another report only to file it among the growing collection of plans for Haiti. It must require a programme of action identifying what will be delivered, by whom and by what date. Commitments of personnel,
equipment, strategic airlift and money should be published. So should failures to honour them. The OAS can use its machinery against organised crime, illicit firearms and money laundering to bring together customs services, financial intelligence units, coastguards, police forces and prosecutors. The weapons used in Kenscoff were not made there. The money used to buy and transport them did not appear from nowhere. The suppliers, financiers and political protectors of the gangs must be identified, sanctioned and prosecuted. Haiti is a member of
CARICOM and a founding member of the OAS. Its people are our people. Caribbean countries have limited resources, but we do not have limited standing. Our voices should be heard, and our actions must be seen and measured. Kenscoff has stripped away every excuse. The danger was known. Personnel and equipment had been promised. Institutions had been created. Yet people were left to die. Governments must now be judged not by the plans they approve or statements they issue, but by the
Sir Ronald Sanders personnel, equipment, investigators and prosecutors they put into the field. Anything less leaves the next Haitian community waiting for its turn to be slaughtered. (Sir Ronald Sanders is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also Chancellor of the University of Guyana. The views expressed are entirely his own.)
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Sunday August 30, 2026
Sonia Noel embraces AI and KSM™ as a Fashion Brand
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s Guyanese fashion designer a n d entrepreneur Sonia Noel celebrates 30 years in the creative industry, she is looking beyond the milestone and deliberately positioning her brand for the future, embracing artificial intelligence both as a creative tool in fashion and as an increasingly important part of how businesses are discovered online. The conversation took centre stage this week in Barbados during Style & Story: A Fashion Experience, presented at the Caribbean Grand Market as part of Noel’s ongoing celebration of 30 Years of Style, Purpose & Impact. During the event, which combined fashion with conversations about Noel’s journey and the evolution of the industry, she was asked about artificial intelligence and what it could mean for the future of fashion. For Noel, the answer is already becoming practical. AI-assisted visualisation allows her to explore design concepts before physically producing them. A garment can be visualised on a model, different colour and fabric possibilities can be considered, proportions and aesthetics can be examined, and elements of the design can be refined before fabric and other resources are committed to production. “AI is not going anywhere, so the question for me is how can we benefit positively from it? As a designer, I can now visualise a concept on a model, explore different colours and
fabrics, look at the proportions and aesthetics and make changes before I actually produce the garment. It does not replace my creativity. It gives me another tool to develop that creativity and make more informed decisions,” Sonia Noel said. For designers, particularly independent creatives and smaller businesses, the ability to visualise and refine concepts before production can potentially reduce unnecessary sampling, save time and resources, and provide greater freedom to experiment. Noel’s growing interest in AI is particularly significant because she readily admits that technology has never been her comfort zone. “I have never considered myself technologically inclined, but I have realised that no matter what business you are in, technology is going to be part of it. With AI developing so rapidly, we cannot simply ignore it or be afraid of it. We have to educate ourselves and determine how we can use it responsibly and positively while maintaining the human element of what we do,” Sonia Noel admitted. KSM™ and the Changing Way Businesses Are Discovered That philosophy is now extending beyond Noel’s design process to the rebuilding of her website, scheduled to launch soon. While the new website is being developed to provide a more engaging and userfriendly experience for
visitors, considerable attention is also being given to something visitors may never see: how the information behind the website is structured so that search engines and artificial intelligence systems can better understand the Sonia Noel brand. Helping to shape this aspect of the project is Guyanese-born Dr. Anthony Bowen, DBA, a corporate AI strategist and professor, and the founder and creator of the Knowledge Structuring Model (KSM™). KSM™ addresses an emerging challenge for businesses. Traditionally, companies concentrated heavily on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to improve their chances of appearing when someone searched online. To d a y, c o n s u m e r s a r e increasingly able to ask AIpowered platforms direct questions, request recommendations, compare options and receive summarized answers without navigating the internet in the traditional way. That evolution means it is no longer enough for a business simply to have a website. Its digital information must also be structured in ways that make it easier for AI systems to understand who the business is, what it does, what it is known for and which sources represent authoritative information about it. Bowen’s KSM™ framework focuses on three pillars: Extractable Structured Content, Entity Salience and Citation Authority Reinforcement,
expressed through his formula: AI Visibility In practical terms, KSM™ seeks to make information clearer and more understandable to AI systems, strengthening the possibility that a business, professional or organization can be accurately identified and represented as AIdriven discovery continues to grow. “The way people discover businesses and information is changing. KSM™ is designed to help organizations structure their knowledge so AI systems can better understand who they are, what they do, how their information is connected and why they are relevant. As AI becomes increasingly involved in how consumers search, ask questions and make decisions, being clearly understood by AI becomes an important part of digital visibility.” — Dr. Anthony Bowen, DBA Technology Should Support, Not Replace, Human Creativity For Noel, there is an equally important principle underpinning her embrace of AI: technology should never remove the humanity from fashion or entrepreneurship. The story behind a collection, cultural influences, craftsmanship, and relationships with clients, intuition and the designer’s creative vision remain distinctly human. AI, she believes, should be used to enhance those abilities rather than replace them. As Noel celebrates 30
A wearable piece by fashion designer Sonia Noel
Years of Style, Purpose & Impact, the timing of this new direction is particularly meaningful. Her anniversary is not only providing an opportunity to look back at three decades of accomplishments, but also to ask what the next chapter should look like. From using AI to visualize fashion concepts before production to rebuilding her website with KSM™ principles designed
for a new era of digital d i s c o v e r y, N o e l i s demonstrating that longevity in business requires a willingness to continue learning. Thirty years after beginning her journey in fashion, Sonia Noel is not simply celebrating where she has been. She is deliberately preparing her brand for where the world is going next. Visit sonianoel.com.
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
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Towards a better life with your psychologist:
CSEC GRADES: THE ANXIOUS CHILD CARRYING THE ANXIOUS SOCIETY
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he achievement of Guyanese young people should not be diminished. They demonstrate r e m a r k a b l e m e m o r y, discipline, intellectual capacity, organisation and perseverance. 12-26 subjects are exceptional when taken into consideration the national pass grade of 67%. That’s about 4 of every 10 students that failed CSEC. Guyanese children collective educational is about unconscious social anxieties that is expressed through educational behaviour. CREDENTIAL ACCUMULATION Education asks, “What can this child understand, create, communicate and do?” Credentialism asks, “How many subjects did this child pass, how many Grade Ones did they receive, and where did they rank?” The contradiction becomes striking; Guyana simultaneously produces a child with 26 passing grades while thousands struggling with foundational numeracy - 34% pass in Math. A student can become highly skilled at remembering information, anticipating examination questions, completing SBAs and reproducing expected answers without necessarily developing proportional capacities in critical thinking, emotional r e g u l a t i o n , c r e a t i v i t y, leadership, communication, entrepreneurship, problemsolving, collaboration or practical competence. So, we must ask what psychological need the additional subjects are serving. The Guyanese child grows up hearing parents transmit hopes, fears, disappointments, corruption impact, racial experiences, e c o n o m i c i n s e c u r i t y, migration fantasies and unresolved frustrations. In this environment, examination success becomes psychologically associated with safety. The unconscious message is: “You must achieve because ordinary achievement will not be enough to protect you.” Their superego becomes demanding. The internal voice does not say, do your best. Rather: You must come first. You must get Grade
Ones. You must make the family proud. You must become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. You must never appear ordinary. This is what a grade base education system like Guyana’s does to children’s psyche. The child gradually moves from “I enjoy learning” to “I must achieve in order to be valuable.” A NATIONAL SUPEREGO The internal picture of who I must become—highachieving child. Falling short doesn’t merely disappoint but shame. “I failed Mathematics” transformed unconsciously into “I am a failure. “Under a performancedriven culture, warning signs include chronic e x a m i n a t i o n a n x i e t y, perfectionism, fear of disappointing parents, inability to tolerate mistakes, self-criticism, sleep deprivation, emotional exhaustion, i r r i t a b i l i t y, s o m a t i c complaints, loss of interest in play, avoidance of unfamiliar challenges, cheating motivated by fear, and an identity dependent upon academic recognition. This produces conditional self-esteem: “I feel good about myself when I am achieving.” Then, externalised motivation: “I study because people will praise me.” The most troubling is the emergence of a false-achieving self—an adolescentwith20 or less subjects-knows exactly what grades are required for medicine but have little idea of self. This distinction matters in a country confronting substantial mental-health challenges. Ranked second globally suicide mortality. Academic pressure cannot be ignored. EDUCATIONAL OVERCOMPENSATION Low compensation intensifies educational anxiety. Parents conclude: “My child must become exceptionally qualified so that my child does not struggle like I did.” The child becomes the carrier of the parent’s economic rescue fantasy. Fifteen safer than ten subjects. A bachelor’s degree is insufficient to masters. So, one needs a doctorate. Achievement becomes an armour against insecurity.
But there is a cruel paradox: credential accumulation cannot solve structural wage problems. Educated on paper while workers remain dissatisfied. BRAIN DRAIN T h e Wo r l d B a n k identified brain drain as a constraint on Guyana’s human-capital development, a substantial loss of tertiaryeducated workers resulting in skill shortages, another unconscious lesson for children: Education is not necessarily about developing Guyana. Education is your passport out of Guyana. The most academically successful child is socialised from early towards Canada, the United States, or Britain. A country which celebrates human-capital formation while Guyana loses the young people in whom it invested in heavily. Guyana glorifies achievement while simultaneously reproducing conditions that encourage achievers to leave. CORRUPTION, RACISM AND THE COLLAPSE OF MERIT Guyana’s corruption ranking is 84 out of 182, Imagine what children unconsciously learn when they repeatedly witness racism, political connections, favouritism and corruption. They conclude that ordinary competence is insufficient. “I must be so qualified that nobody can deny me.” The child is attempting not to achieve but to become indisputable. Those that fail become hopeless. This is an enormous psychological burden to place on a sixteenyear-old. August 16, 2026 article, “Guyana leads the Caribbean w ith fake P hD s ” The controversy itself is psychologically fascinating. The fake doctorate represents the endpoint of credentialism. Title becomes more important than the training. Therein lies the connection with examination culture. The child’s response is rational: “I must achieve more.” But more is not always better. A sixteen-year-old with eight subjects, emotional stability, curiosity, creativity, friendships, adequate sleep, critical-thinking ability,
technological competence and a coherent sense of self may ultimately be developmentally healthier—and more useful to Guyana—than a sixteenyear-old with twenty passes who has learned that rest is laziness and personal worth depends upon being exceptional. THE EDUCATED CHILD The question Guyana should ask not merely: “How many Grade Ones did our children obtain?” But: “What kind of human beings is our education system producing?” Are they psychologically healthy? Can they think rather than merely reproduce? Can they apply knowledge? Can they tolerate failure? Can they
cooperate with people of another ethnicity? Can they identify By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, corruption rather than MSc. Postgrad, BSc. adapt to it? Can they Clinical and Developmental create employment rather than merely Psychologist - Psychoanalyst Unwrapping Gift -Clinic seek it? Can they form healthy relationships? and examination-stress Can they regulate anxiety? s u p p o r t . P a r e n t s n e e d Can they live meaningfully e d u c a t i o n o n h o w t o when nobody is grading relinquish making children them? Can they vote on responsible for family policy over race? prestige. Guyana’s education M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y, system needs reform, focus Guyana must decide what on mastery, creativity, education is for? competence, emotional Is it to produce grades, i n t e l l i g e n c e , p r o b l e m - titles, social status, and s o l v i n g , c i t i z e n s h i p , political bluff? Or to produce t e c h n i c a l a b i l i t y , psychologically healthy, collaboration and innovation e t h i c a l l y g r o u n d e d , alongside examination intellectually economically grades. productive and socially Mental-health screening responsible human beings?
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Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…
FROM 12% TO 60%: By Dr. Karen Abrams, MBA, AA Express permission was granted by the guardian to discuss this story and some identifying details were changed. A few school terms ago, a grandmother walked into our office worried about her grandchild. The child had recently moved in with her and was attending a local high school. She had just received her report card, and her Mathematics grade was 12%. Yes, my friends, twelve percent. That is 12 out of 100, not on one bad examination, but as her Mathematics grade for the entire term. Her grandmother had seen our advertisements for Pathway Online Academy but did not really understand how the programme worked. She knew, however, that she did not have either the time or money to arrange the kind of oneon-one, in-person tutoring she assumed her granddaughter desperately needed. The child had already attended traditional afterschool lessons, but she was so far behind, and so ashamed of being behind, that she would sit quietly when she did not understand. She did not raise her hand and announce to a room full of other children that she did not know something they seemed to know. She simply remained lost. This is an important part of our Mathematics crisis that we do not discuss enough. By the time some children reach secondary school, Mathematics is no longer simply a difficult subject. It has become an emotional burden. OECD research has repeatedly found a relationship between mathematics anxiety and poor performance, with lowerperforming students reporting greater anxiety about the subject. Think about what that means for a child with 12%. She may already believe that she cannot do Mathematics, and every new equation becomes another opportunity to confirm what she has begun to believe about herself. After hearing about the 12%, our Operations Manager and I decided to waive Pathway Online Academy’s GYD$5,000 monthly fee and enroll the learner as quickly as possible. But we understood something important about digital learning: putting a struggling child in front of a computer does not automatically produce learning. Online programmes often work best for motivated learners, students who already have reasonable academic foundations, and children whose parents or guardians monitor what they are doing.
What One Learner taught us about Guyana’s mathematics crisis
The challenge is that children associate computers and phones with entertainment. Even when they remain on an educational platform, we have observed that they quickly learn how to beat poorly designed systems. They skip the reading, rush through quizzes, take them repeatedly until they learn the answers rather than the concepts, and move on. The computer records activity, but the child may have learned very little. UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report has similarly warned that online learning requires considerable selfregulation and that younger and lower-performing learners can be especially vulnerable to disengagement. Technology can support learning, but technology itself is not the intervention. We learned this through observing our own students. We studied how children moved through Pathway and redesigned the programme around the behaviours we were seeing. The platform now reflects significant improvements and engagement checkpoints intended to make it much harder for learners to simply click through lessons. AI is integrated into the programme, but AI is not the magic. The design around the learner matters far more. For our 12% learner, we demanded one additional commitment. Her granny had to check the parent platform every day and review the summary report. That was it. No tutoring, no sitting beside her for an hour, no trying to relearn secondary-school Mathematics. She simply had to know whether the child was doing the work and monitor her progress. Research on parental engagement supports the value of giving parents specific, manageable ways to participate in their children’s education. That matters in Guyana because parents do not have to know enough Mathematics to tutor their children. They can still ask: Did you do the work? What did you learn? Show me your progress. At the end of the next term, her Mathematics grade had moved from 12% to 38%. Some people will look at 38% and see failure. We saw movement. We saw a child who had been almost completely disconnected from Mathematics beginning to climb back into it. Thirty-eight percent was not the destination, but when you start at twelve, it means something important is changing. Then came the end-of-year report:
Mathematics, 60%; from 12% to 60%. I want to be careful because education research requires us to be careful. One child’s story does not prove that Pathway Online Academy caused a 48-percentagepoint increase. Her school, t e a c h e r s , m a t u r i t y, h o m e environment and other factors may also have contributed. But this case matters because the learner was intentionally followed, her engagement was monitored, her grandmother performed the limited oversight we requested, and hers is not the only significant improvement we have observed. The result therefore gives us something more useful than a marketing claim. It gives us a research question: what exactly happened here, and can we reproduce it for larger numbers of struggling learners? We are currently working with researchers associated with two US universities to study elements of our programme design more rigorously. International research gives us reason to keep asking that question. The U.S. Department of E d u c a t i o n ’ s W h a t Wo r k s Clearinghouse recommends early identification, explicit and systematic intervention, progress monitoring and motivational supports for struggling Mathematics students. These ideas point toward something Guyana desperately needs: interventions deliberately designed for children who are already behind. This is where one girl’s story becomes a national story. Our Mathematics problem does not suddenly appear at CSEC. We see warning signs in the early grades, again at Grade Six, at CSEC and eventually in the number of young people who fail to matriculate and
leave school without the academic foundation required for further study or many forms of employment. In datasets I have reviewed over several years, Mathematics performance often appears to separate into two large groups: a substantial population struggling badly and another group doing reasonably well, with a much smaller group performing exceptionally. Yet much of our national conversation focuses on the exceptional group. We celebrate the top NGSA students, children earning extraordinary numbers of CSEC subjects, Mathematics camps, STEM centres and competitions. All of these have value, but they address a different problem. Guyana absolutely needs opportunities that push our strongest students beyond the curriculum. But the much harder national challenge is moving the child with 12% to 30%, then to 40%, then across the pass line and onward. Achieving the national improvement, we seek will mean meaningful collaboration at the national level and an openness from the Ministry of Education under Minister Sonia Parag, Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain and the wider education leadership. I hope that collaboration happens. Guyana is also seeing substantial new investment in STEM, including ExxonMobil Guyana’s announced US$100 million, 10year initiative involving teacher development, student opportunities and career pathways. That investment could be significant, but even US$100 million cannot substitute for a clear national strategy focused on the struggling child. If interventions mostly reach children who are already performing reasonably well, good
students will become better students while the bottom of the academic distribution barely moves. The real measure of transformation is whether the child who was failing begins to pass. Guyana is developing rapidly, and industries that barely existed here a generation ago will employ thousands of Guyanese over the coming decades. Our Indigenous young people must be equipped to lead development in their communities and across the hinterland, just as our riverine, rural and coastal children must be prepared to become the engineers, technicians, scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs and skilled professionals building their regions. Every child deserves the opportunity to be prepared to earn a decent living in this rapidly changing economy. Parents and guardians, particularly those responsible for struggling learners, cannot simply wait and hope that another school term will repair years of accumulated academic weakness. If your child is struggling, intervene. Use Pathway if it works for your family. Use another programme if it is better suited to your child. Find the teacher who can help. Ask questions. Check the books and report cards. Monitor the progress. Pathway offers a sliding scale for children from vulnerable families because the opportunity to recover academically should never belong only to children whose parents can afford expensive private lessons. But the most important lesson from our learner is not simply that she moved from 12% to 60% in Mathematics. It is that 12% did not define her ability. Somewhere along the way, she had fallen behind, and eventually she became the child sitting quietly in lessons, ashamed to admit that she did not understand. Guyana has thousands of children like her, and we cannot look at them and conclude that they cannot learn. The harder test of our education system is what we do with those children. Can we find them early enough? Can we understand why they are struggling and intervene before embarrassment becomes resignation? Can we move them from failing to passing and eventually toward believing that they have a future? Perhaps, instead of asking, “What is wrong with these children?” we should be asking, “What must we change so that they can succeed?”
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Cervical Cancer: the silent invader we can outsmart — Understanding the HPV Virus and Why Safe Sex is Your Best Shield By the 21st China Medical Team: Li Yanyu Cervical cancer was one of the most common causes of cancer death for women worldwide. Today, however, it is one of the most preventable cancers. We have the tools to stop it before it even starts. To understand how, we need to look at two key factors: a virus called HPV and the choices we make in our intimate lives. The Culprit: HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Think of HPV as the “common cold” of the sexual world—but with a dangerous twist. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally. In fact, almost 80% of sexually active people will contract at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. Here is the reassuring news: In most cases, your immune system clears the virus within two years without you ever knowing you had it. However, there is a catch. There are over 100 strains of HPV. While most are harmless (causing things like skin warts), about 14 “high-risk” strains can cause cancer. The Link: When a “highrisk” strain of HPV persists in the body for many years, it can cause changes to the cells of the cervix. Over time, these abnormal cells can turn into cancer. It is a slow process—usually t a k i n g 1 0 t o 1 5 years—which gives us a massive window of opportunity to intervene. Prevention Strategy #1: The Vaccine (Your Biological Shield) The HPV vaccine is a medical marvel. It is designed to block the most dangerous strains of the virus before they ever have a chance to infect you. Who should get it? Ideally, both boys and girls should receive the vaccine between ages 9 and 12. This is because the vaccine works best before the first exposure to the virus. However, if you missed that window, “catchup” vaccinations are recommended up to age 26, and in some cases, up to age 45 after consulting a doctor. Does it mean I am immune? No. The vaccine protects against the most common high-risk strains (types 16 and 18, which
cause 70% of cervical cancers), but it does not cover all strains. Therefore, even vaccinated women still need regular screening. Prevention Strategy #2: The Pap Smear and HPV Test (Your Early Warning System) This is where we catch the “persistent” virus in action. Screening does not prevent you from catching HPV, but it prevents the cancer from developing. The Pap Smear: This test looks for cell changes in the cervix. If we find abnormal cells, we can remove them easily in a doctor’s office before they ever become cancer. The HPV Test: This looks for the actual DNA of the high-risk virus. The Schedule: Doctors generally recommend starting cervical cancer screening at age 21. Depending on your age and which test is used, you will repeat this every 3 to 5 years. Do not skip these appointments. They are the single most effective tool we have for saving lives. Prevention Strategy #3: The Sexual Health Angle (Safe Practices) Since HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, your lifestyle choices play a massive role in your risk level. Condoms are crucial, but not perfect: Using condoms consistently and correctly significantly reduces the risk o f t r a n s m i t t i n g H P V. However, because HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom (like the scrotum or vulva), condoms are not 100% effective against it.
Still, they are a nonnegotiable layer of protection. Limiting Partners: A higher number of sexual partners increases the statistical likelihood of coming into contact with a high-risk HPV strain. Being mindful of your own and your partner’s sexual history is a practical protective measure. Important: A Note on Smoking While we focus on viruses and sex, we cannot ignore the cigarette. Women who smoke are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer. Chemicals from tobacco damage the DNA of cervix cells and make it harder for the immune system to fight off the HPV infection. Quitting smoking is a vital part of cervical health. The Bottom Line Cervical cancer is a disease of neglect. It thrives when we avoid the doctor, skip the vaccine, or ignore safe sex practices. Your Action Plan: 1. Get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible. 2. Schedule your routine Pap smear/HPV test—do not wait for symptoms (early cervical cancer usually has none). 3. Practice safe sex and have open conversations with your partner about sexual health. We have the science to eliminate cervical cancer in our lifetime. The power to stop this silent invader lies not in waiting for a cure, but in using the prevention we already have. Take charge of your health today.
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GNBS MOBILE STAMPING EXERCISE REINFORCES IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS
A
s consumers continue to p u r c h a s e groceries and other goods from supermarkets, shops, markets and other retail outlets, the accuracy of the weights and measures used in these transactions remain an important aspect of consumer protection. Under the 1981 Weights and Measures Act, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), through its Legal Metrology Department, continues to play a critical role in ensuring that measuring instruments used in trade are accurate. As part of this responsibility, the Bureau conducts verification exercises twice annually to ensure that these instruments operate correctly and provide accurate measurements. The exercise is repeated twice annually because measuring instruments can lose their accuracy over time due to frequent use, worn parts, mishandling, or other defects. Currently, the GNBS is conducting its second round of verification for 2026. As part of this enforcement period, the Bureau is conducting a Mobile Stamping Exercise,
during which officers travel to markets across the country and busy shopping districts to verify and stamp all scales, masses and measures used by sellers. The instruments being verified include the red equal arm scale, platform scale and electronic scale. Notably, there is a National Standard for the manufacturing of the red equal arm scale. The standard “GYS 180 – Specification for Equal Arm Scales (4 kg)” specifies the requirements and materials to be used in the manufacture of these scales and masses. Manufacturers can purchase a copy of this standard from the GNBS and ensure that newly manufactured instruments are also verified before being offered for sale. Verification helps to ensure that consumers receive what they pay for, promotes a level playing field for businesses, supports public safety, maintains confidence in private and public services, assists in the enforcement of compliance requirements, and helps to prevent fraud and unfair pricing. Once a measuring instrument has been verified and meets the applicable requirements, the GNBS affixes an official
verification seal. In this regard, consumers are urged to look for the GNBS verification seal when purchasing goods by weight or measure. The instrument should also be clean and properly maintained. Apart from potentially affecting the accuracy of measurements, dirty weighing instruments can contaminate goods. Consumers also have an important role to play in protecting themselves and encouraging fair trade. The
GNBS urge consumers to request goods in metric quantities, such as grams and kilograms. Solid goods such as rice, peas and Channa should be purchased by weight rather than by measure. Meanwhile, the GNBS also verifies the net content of prepackaged goods. Net content refers to the actual quantity of product contained in a package, excluding the packaging itself. This information allows consumers to know how much product they are
purchasing and makes it easier to compare quantities when making purchasing decisions. In keeping with the National Standard, “GYS 212:2025 – Specification for Net Content in Packages,” the GNBS verifies the net content of prepackaged goods starting at the manufacturers’ premises to promote accuracy. A fair marketplace depends not only on businesses using accurate measuring instruments and complying with established
requirements, but also on consumers knowing their rights and taking an active interest in the transactions they make. Through verification, monitoring, and consumer awareness, the GNBS continues to support a measurement system that promotes accuracy, fairness, and confidence in trade. For further information on GNBS Legal Metrology services, consumers and businesses can contact the Bureau at 219-0064–66 or via WhatsApp at 692-4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.
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Sock Goes to School After a bad start to the morning, when the Sock Babies had been on their naughtiest behaviour, knocking over the laundry basket, and upsetting Slippers, Sock decided it was time to do something about such bad behaviour. Sock had seen a leaflet being put through the letterbox the day before. It was asking for people to give their time and their help to teach others, who had problems at school. For free ! The word “school” had given Sock the idea. As the Sock Babies were now becoming naughty “Children,” what harm could there be in trying to teach them to read, write and listen to their elders, who clearly knew better than they did! The problem would be to get them to sit still long enough to pay attention. Lessons in reading would be useful, to begin with. Signs with “Keep off the grass” written on them meant nothing at all. So did other signs. “WET PAINT” was another one which the Sock Babies didn't, or didn't want to, understand, and poor Sock had been seen trying to scrub wet paint from their ribbons many times! In fact, it wasn't just the Sock family who needed to go to school and learn. Uncle Doc Marten wanted to learn how to avoid puddles, and Wellington boots. Wellington Boot wanted to avoid Doc Marten and umbrellas. And Shoe Sweetheart wanted to learn how to mend a broken heel. Everybody agreed it was a good idea, so Sock decided she would be the teacher, especially as she was cleverer than anybody else, (or so she thought!). “What shall we use for a blackboard?” piped up Shoe. Doc Marten had an idea. “I've seen one in the nursery, with some different coloured crayons” he replied. “Why don't we have school classes in there instead? It's a lot quieter and no-one ever goes in there!” As Doc Marten meant that the “humans” didn't go in there any more, everyone agreed. It wouldn't be a good idea if their secret of coming to life was discovered would it? That would certainly make the ten o'clock news. Indeed! So the blackboard was set up in the corner of the nursery, and everyone made themselves comfortable. Sock stood at the
front of the class, looking pleased with herself. “Today I'm going to show you how to add up!” she smiled. “This is for the Sock Children, especially on pocket money days!” The little socks stared at each other. Sock was giving them 5 pence each every week, which was always saved up in a little jar, marked “Socks' Pocket Money Box!” Anything they wanted to buy was paid for from this box, usually ribbons or buttons. But it wasn't enough ! Sock picked up a white crayon in her mouth. “This is how you add up!” she smiled, and writing wonkily on the blackboard, she began. “Two plus two equals twenty-two, and one and three equals five!” Sock looked pleased with herself. “Now, I want you all to write that down and remember it! It's easy!” Sock did not know that both of her sums were very, very wrong indeed. The Sock Children laughed. “We've written something for you!” they replied. Passing a piece of paper to Sock, she read the words they had written. In large letters, it said “MUST TRY HARDER!” Oh dear! Sock started to cry. Now she saw why Shoe, Uncle Doc Marten, Big Boot and the Children were all laughing at her ! Not-so-clever Sock after all. “We've made you a present, for all your hard work!” said Big Boot, and gave Sock a big yellow hat to wear, with a huge letter “D” in the middle. Sock put it on. “What does the “D” mean?” she asked. “Dummy!” replied the Sock Children, cheekily. “Does this mean we can have more pocket money now?” Sock, still crying, turned to look at them. She had done her best and this was how she was treated! It wasn't fair at all! Looking them straight in the eye, Sock replied “NO!”
Art is so much fun by Uncle Roy I used to admire other people's art, And think it was something I couldn't do; It seemed impossible for me to make The beautiful pictures that they drew. Then one day I made up my mind To try to make my own; At first it seemed so very hard, But as I drew it became so much fun. Now there is nothing I enjoy more Than spending time drawing and painting; So now it is others who admire my art, And even beg me to draw them something. So if, like me, you feel it is so hard, Remember you only need to make a start; You will soon find you have what it takes, And have fun while you produce works of art.
Start & Finish
Form words that Start and Finish with the same letter. For example, ___ O A S ___ becomes TOAST when a T is placed at the beginning and end of that set of letters. Use a different letter for each set.
2. ___ U R ___
7. ___ V A L U A T ___
3. ___ U S L I ___
8. ___ E S I G N A T E ___
4. ___ U L ___
9. ___ A R O ___
5. ___ I N ___
10. ___ A S ___
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TEEN TIME A Sense of Belonging is important for our Growth In that phase of life moving towards adulthood, when a young person is experiencing strange changes in all aspects of his/her life, he /she feels the importance of satisfying the need to be accepted for what he/she is, and to have that acceptance in the various communities in which he/she operates, namely, the home, school, work-place, community, and the various organisations in which he/she may be functioning. Without this sense of belonging, which will allow
that person to develop and grow as a responsible and reasonable individual, he/she will tend to search for this acceptance wherever it can be found. This can many times lead in the wrong direction, and can
easily force them to fall into error as a result. One example is when young people succumb to the appeal of joining with individuals or groups, even though these may not conform to the standards which they have learnt from their previous experiences at home, church, etc. This is what has led to many joining juvenile gangs when they could not find this acceptance in the situations in which they exist, as these gangs tend to satisfy the need for belonging, social acceptance and identification. These gangs allow them to retain i n d i v i d u a l i t y, a n d b e accepted as a member of a
group, even though they have to abide with patterns of behaviour which they have been taught as going against the rules of conduct that is best for them. As young people strive for independence from their parents and the values which they have more or less been forced to accept, they need to think more deeply about these standards and keep them as the criteria on which to base their lives. This will allow them to relate to others within their own society, and live according to the moral and social standards which they now know are right. They will find these when they make a special effort to do so in the various environments in which they operate, be it their own world of music, friendships, school, church, entertainment, and other straightforward organisations that can be found in any society.
We make our
own world by Carmen Mashier We make our own world, whoever we are, Our happiness is of our own making; We make our own world, wherever we are, Our happiness is there for the taking. Our world goes with us as we walk and talk each day, Our world can be a heaven or hell, our attitude will say, We make our own world, whatever we are, Let's make our own world, wherever we are. Keep thinking happy, and we'll make a new world, Happiness in a choice that we can at any time make; When we feel grateful for all we have and can do, Then we will always be happy, whether asleep or awake.
It should now be clear to you why some young people choose to associate with others who may obviously not be living according to the moral standards that they know as right, and make the right choices in your own search for acceptance.
Solutions to last week’s
RHYME TIME The answer to the clues below are pairs of rhyming words. For example: "Plump Feline" would mean FAT CAT. 1. Bracelet sequin 2. Paperback thief 3. Molting season 4. Chilly idiot 5. Fin Fragment 6. Pseudo comrade 7. Glossy 7days 8. Affection Bird
BINOX
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Mind Your Business
“But Look How They Living!” - Money, Status, and the Psychology of Looking Successful - Why We Sometimes Spend More Energy Appearing Successful Than Becoming Secure By Dr. Eon Andre George, PhD, EdD Sometimes the most expensive thing a person owns is not the house, car, phone, jewellery, or outfit. It is the image they are trying to maintain. A person can be struggling to pay bills and still feel pressure to arrive at an event looking prosperous. Someone can borrow money for a celebration, finance things they cannot c o m f o r t a b l y a ff o r d , o r quietly measure their life against a friend who seems to be doing better. We may know almost nothing about another person’s finances, relationships, debt, or private struggles, yet one photograph can make us conclude: “But look how they living!” Almost immediately, another question follows: “What am I doing wrong?” That reveals something important about human psychology. Success is rarely judged in isolation. We often decide how well we are doing by looking sideways. Success Needs an Audience Money has practical value. It buys food, shelter,
education, transportation, comfort, opportunity, and security. Status is different. Status requires other people to notice. A reliable car provides transportation, but a particular car may communicate achievement. A house provides shelter, but its size and location may communicate social position. Clothing covers the body, while certain labels can communicate taste, belonging, or financial success. Psychologist Leon Festinger’s Social Comparison Theory helps explain this. Festinger proposed that people evaluate themselves partly by comparing themselves with others. In simple terms, we frequently answer “How am I doing?” by first asking “How are they doing?” That can motivate us. It can also make us miserable. The Yardstick Keeps Moving Imagine a young woman who gets her first stable job. She can finally pay her bills and save a little. Then a former schoolmate posts p i c t u r e s o f a n e w c a r. Suddenly her perfectly functional car feels old.
Another friend posts vacation photographs. Staying home now feels like falling behind. Someone announces the purchase of a house, and her apartment begins feeling like evidence of failure. Nothing in her actual life changed. Her reference point did. This is the power of upward social comparison, comparing ourselves with people we perceive as doing better. It can inspire growth, but it can also create envy, inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and the persistent feeling that we are behind. There will almost always be somebody with more: more money, qualifications, possessions, followers, or apparent happiness. If comparison determines satisfaction, peace becomes almost impossible because the yardstick never stops moving. “People Have to See” Status becomes particularly powerful in communities where people know one another and reputation carries weight. Birthdays, weddings, graduations, funerals, Christmas gatherings, and other occasions can become more than celebrations. They
can become public statements about how well a family is doing. Sometimes people spend beyond what they can comfortably afford because scaling back feels socially embarrassing. The private question becomes: “What people gon say?” This connects with Erving Goffman’s concept of Impression Management. Goffman described social life partly as performance: people consciously and unconsciously manage how others perceive them. We present particular versions of ourselves depending on the audience and setting. We all do this to some degree. The problem begins when maintaining the performance becomes more important than maintaining the life behind it. A Wedding Everybody Remembered Consider a couple planning their wedding. They originally want something small. Then the guest list begins growing. “You can’t invite she and don’t invite me.” Someone says the venue is too simple. Another asks about the food. A relative wants to know who is decorating. Soon the wedding is no longer simply about two people beginning a marriage. It has become a public production. They b o r r o w m o n e y. T h e y upgrade everything. The photographs are beautiful, and people talk about the wedding for weeks. Two months later, the guests have moved on. The couple still has the debt. That is the danger of living for an audience: The audience eventually goes home. You remain with the consequences. Where Did Our Ideas of Success Come From? Our ideas about status did not appear from nowhere. In societies shaped by colonialism, class h i e r a r c h y, e c o n o m i c inequality, and limited opportunities for advancement, visible signs of progress historically carried enormous meaning. Education, professional employment, home ownership, particular ways of speaking and dressing, and migration could all signal upward mobility. For families that experienced genuine deprivation, wanting their children to “do better” was not simply
Dr. Eon Andre George, PhD, EdD vanity. It was hope. The problem occurs when progress becomes confused with display. Security and appearance are not the same thing. Someone can look wealthy while being financially fragile. Another person can live modestly while quietly possessing s a v i n g s , p r o p e r t y, investments, skills, and peace of mind. One is simply easier to see. Social Media Put the Crowd in Our Pocket Previous generations generally compared themselves with people they knew. Today, we compare ourselves with strangers. Before breakfast, a person can scroll through promotions, engagements, vacations, new homes, birthdays, businesses, cars, and carefully photographed meals. But the comparison is psychologically unfair. We compare our whole life with somebody else’s selected m o m e n t s . We s e e t h e vacation but not the creditcard balance. We see the smiling couple but not the argument before the photograph. We see the new car but not the monthly payment. The information is incomplete. The emotional reaction is still real. Society Also Defines Success Our definitions of success are also influenced by institutions. When society rewards certain credentials but undervalues technical skills, young people notice. When connections seem more valuable than competence, they notice that too. When some communities have greater access to quality education, employment, transportation, housing, and opportunity, individual outcomes are affected. Effort matters enormously. But o p p o r t u n i t y, f a m i l y resources, social networks, geography, education, and government policy matter too. Psychology examines the individual. Social psychology reminds us that the individual always lives inside a society.
Redefining “Doing Well” Perhaps we need a broader definition of success. What if doing well meant being financially responsible rather than merely looking wealthy? What if success also included emotional stability, healthy relationships, meaningful work, integrity, time with family, and enough confidence to drive an older car without feeling diminished beside somebody’s newer one? There is nothing wrong with wanting beautiful t h i n g s , p r o s p e r i t y, professional achievement, or recognition. The important question is why. There is a profound difference between: “I want this because it improves my life.” and “I need this so people will believe my life is going well.” One is ownership. The other is performance. Understanding Behaviour through Context Behind the desire for status is often something deeper than materialism. Sometimes it is insecurity. S ometimes it is s ocial comparison. Sometimes it is a family’s determination to prove that years of struggle produced something better. Sometimes it is the inherited belief that visible success earns respect. Understanding those motives does not mean condemning ambition. It means separating genuine progress from the pressure to perform progress for other people. Because eventually the music stops, the guests leave, the photographs stop receiving likes, and the neighbours find something else to discuss. You are left with your actual life. Perhaps that is the better measure of success: When nobody is watching, are you still happy with the life you built? There is nothing wrong with looking successful. Just make sure you are not sacrificing s e c u r i t y, p e a c e , a n d purpose to maintain the appearance of it.
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Mary Ashley Gupta, aspiring neurosurgeon, aces CXC at just 13 By Shermon Hawker
U
(Grade 8) Mathematics to CXC Mathematics, but with the support of my siblings and my parents, it was easy." The calculated risk was taken and proved successful. She secured two Grade Ones and three Grade Twos. A simple question One day, during a fatherand-daughter interaction, her father pitched an idea to her — one that was not crafted on a whim, but meticulously moulded in the mind of a parent who had carefully assessed his daughter's skills and competence.
He asked her a simple question: "Do you want to try CXC to have a feel?" "I said 'sure', because I didn't exactly know my potentials at the time, and my dad, he saw a potential in me, so he asked me the question and I agreed." It was decided. Reservations had no room, as the parents, teachers and student at the centre of it all set sail on what would become a sixmonth journey of painstaking study and preparation for a 13-yearold who had not too long ago completed the National Grade Six Assessment
Young Mary is already fairly proficient with handling motorcycles
"I decided to place Mary in Fifth Form to sit the CSEC examinations because it became clear to me that her academic ability and level of thinking were well beyond what I normally expected for her age. During her first year at Berbice High School, she performed exceptionally well and finished at the top of her class. I also noticed that she was highly focused when challenged, learned quickly, enjoyed solving complex problems, and was not easily stimulated by work that she considered too simple," her father, Mark Gupta, told Kaieteur
The 13-year-old who loves a challenge
nder normal circumstances, high school students in Guyana would sit the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) at the age of 16, readying themselves for a grand exit from secondary school life. One 13-year-old from Berbice High School (BHS), however, daringly challenged this convention and, after a mere two-year stay in high school, is gearing up to graduate alongside those who are senior to her in age, but certainly not in capacity.
Engaged in assembling her Lego pieces, one of her favourite activities.
her potential ought not to be confined within the bounds of her age and grade level. She needed a challenge, he emphasised. "Her response to that challenge reinforced my belief that she was capable of handling work at a much higher level. When given the opportunity to prepare for CSEC-level assessments, she Young Mary Ashley Gupta sat the recently concluded May/June examinations, writing five subjects and securing passes in each, validating the unreserved confidence reposed in her by her parents. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Mary shared that she is thrilled by new challenges, and it was with that mindset that she took on English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Human and Social Biology, and Physics — subjects not tailored to her level, but rather at an advanced level. She spoke about the transition from Second Form to CXC preparation. "It was a big jump. It was hard and challenging going from subjects I was now getting into, such as Integrated Science, and a huge jump from Form 2
Mary wrote five CXC subjects and secured two Grade Ones and three Grade Twos
(NGSA), and now had her focus firmly fixed on her biggest test to date. Her excitement outweighed any nervousness, she said. The confidence factor Mary's parents exuded confidence. For most newcomers to the secondary level, casual references to CSEC examinations can instill dread and unease, on account of the endless narratives about how difficult and consequential those examinations can be. Undeterred by that, the depth and range of her academic capabilities were all the encouragement her parents needed to take advantage of a unique provision at the school, through which parents can formally request that a child sit subjects in an upcoming CXC examination.
she expressed that she was "extremely satisfied that all my father's hard work has paid off, and mine," while also acknowledging the support of her mother and siblings. Age is just a... She was given her deserved spotlight following the examinations. Precocious? Exceptional? Prodigious? Deem it what
Flanked by her parents and siblings, her enduring and faithful support system News. Gupta explained that he sought to test her academic prowess, which gave birth to the idea of having her sit the examinations while still a Second Form (Grade 8) student. He felt strongly that
demonstrated that she could grasp and work with material intended for students several years ahead of her." As for Mary, having been cognizant throughout that a lot was riding on her,
you may, but the aspiring doctor is an emblem of her family's pride. The yields from her effort throughout her schooling have been abundant. She is the third of four (Continued on page 54)
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Guyanese-born beauty,
Netu Lal
makes history as Miss Eco International Canada
G
uyanese-born beauty queen Netu Lal made history in Canada on July 25, 2026, when she was crowned Miss Eco International Canada 2026 in Surrey, British Columbia, becoming the first Guyanese-born woman to hold the title. The milestone adds to an already remarkable year for Lal, who was also crowned Miss Toronto 2026. But beyond the titles, her journey is rooted in advocacy, community, and purpose. Lal is the founder of Beyond The Lens, a mental health advocacy initiative focused on creating spaces for healing, creativity, and meaningful conversations. Her dedication to community work has also been recognised through a recent Canada Legacy Award for her contributions to the community. Having begun her pageant journey representing Guyana, Lal now finds herself representing Canada on an international platform, carrying her Guyanese and Indo-Caribbean roots with her every step of the way. For Lal, this moment is bigger than a crown. It is about showing young Caribbean and immigrant women that
they belong in spaces of leadership, influence, and global representation. From humble beginnings to an international stage, Lal is turning her journey into a message, “Representation matters, purpose creates impact, and where you come from should never determine how far you can go!”
The moment that Guyanese-born, Netu Lal captured the Miss Eco International Canada crown.
Sunday 2202 ,August 20 yaM 30, yad2026 noM
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Guyanese researchers lead new study into the hidden mental toll on the world's merchant seafarers
Guyanese researchers. Roy Naipaul is a Guyanese American social worker and psychotherapist known for his work with vulnerable c o m m u n i t i e s . D r. R i t a Persaud is a Guyanese Canadian professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada, who studies human resources and mental health. Working with maritime executives
Dr. Rita Persaud
deep sense of helplessness whenever something went wrong at home, with no way to help from thousands of
Roy Naipaul, MSW
Aung Myin Moe, MBA
Every year, hundreds of thousands of men sail out on cargo ships to keep the world supplied with everything from fuel to food, spending months at a time at sea, far from wives, children, and parents. Most will never tell a doctor, a co-worker, or their own family when the job becomes too much to bear. Not because nothing is wrong, but because the culture on board teaches them that staying quiet is the only way to cope. That silence is the focus of a new study led by two
Captains Aung Moe and Myo Thant, both PhD candidates at the International Executive School in Strasbourg, France, they looked at how men who spend months at sea, cut off from their families, cope with that isolation, and what toll it takes. This is not new ground for Naipaul and Persaud,
who have focused their careers on communities whose struggles rarely make headlines. This time, that work has taken them into shipping. What the study found was a slow build-up of stress that seafarers carried alone, contract after contract. Many could never fully relax, even while sleeping. Poor sleep was common, along with a
miles away. Almost none had spoken to a doctor about it, and none had access to formal mental health support
at sea. What stood out most to the researchers was that this (Continued on page 54 )
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Sunday August 30, 2026
Some of the members who benefited from the wellness retreat
Camp Escapé 2026: I
n a world where many women are expected to balance careers, families, caregiving responsibilities and personal commitments, taking time to rest and reset is often overlooked. In Guyana, however, conversations around wellness, burnout, emotional balance and self-care are becoming increasingly important as more people recognise that true wellbeing goes beyond the physical. With this in mind, Escapé Book Club hosted its Second Annual Health & Wellness Retreat, Camp Escapé 2026, under the theme “Camp Escapé: Reset, Connect & Grow.” Founder of the book club, Sameerah Mohamed Ferouze explained that the two-day retreat held in July was designed as a safe and welcoming space where women could step away from their daily routines, reconnect with themselves and each other, and return home feeling refreshed, grounded and inspired. She explained that the health & wellness retreat was built on the understanding that wellness is nurtured through connection, creativity, movement, learning, and time in nature. “The retreat intentionally blended these elements to create an experience that supported the mind, body and spirit. The weekend opened with a Welcome Bonfire, where members gathered over coffee and pastries to share their intentions for Camp Escapé. From the start, the atmosphere encouraged openness, reflection and sisterhood, setting the tone for a judgment-free space where every woman felt seen, valued and heard. Each participant was given a sash to start the retreat in which they would earn badges after each activity,” she said. Throughout the two-day retreat held across different locations
The Journey of Rest, Connection and Renewal
along the East Bank and East Coast, participants engaged in memberled workshops to encourage involvement, centered on personal development, financial awareness, mindfulness and healthy living. Sessions such as Trail to Growth invited members to reflect on their personal journeys and future goals, while Trail to Financial Freedom emphasised the importance of financial literacy in reducing stress and building long-term stability. According to the founder, a standout moment of Camp Escapé was a powerful presentation by guest speaker Mr. Blane Bunbury, titled “Living Your Life as a Vacation.” His message encouraged participants to be intentional about creating balance in their everyday lives, rather than waiting for rare moments of rest. He reminded attendees that wellness requires boundaries, self-awareness and the courage to slow down. She stressed that creativity and mindfulness were also central to the Camp Escapé experience. During The Reset Cabin, members participated in candle-making, led by Happy Creations, an activity that encouraged focus, calm and presence. A guided Nature Reflection Walk further allowed participants to disconnect from daily pressures and reconnect with the healing energy of the outdoors. Adding to the spirit of joy and relaxation, participants also enjoyed time swimming and indulging in s'mores. Everyone received tons of custom goodies and merch throughout the weekend. A key focus of the retreat was the importance of meaningful relationships in supporting emotional well-being. Through sessions such as Sisterhood, Bonding & Connection, participants shared personal
The custom goody bags for participants of Camp Escapé
experiences, offered encouragement and strengthened bonds with one another. In a fastpaced world where many people experience isolation, Camp Escapé created space for genuine connection and community support. As a book club, reading remained at the heart of the experience. Through Books & Bonfires, members exchanged books to give each other a chance to
be introduced to something new. Reading was celebrated not only as a source of knowledge, but also as a tool for empathy, relaxation and emotional expression. Creative writing sessions further allowed participants to process thoughts and express themselves in meaningful ways. Physical wellness was also incorporated through light movement activities, camp games and discussions on nutrition,
reinforcing the connection between physical health and emotional balance. Members were able to create their own trail mix to snack on throughout the weekend as well. The retreat concluded with gratitude reflections, creative sharing and moments of celebration. Participants left Camp Escapé not only with keepsakes and memories, but also with renewed energy, deeper friendships and practical tools to support their wellbeing in everyday life. Camp Escapé reflects Escapé Book Club's belief that wellness is not a luxury, but a necessity. As conversations around mental health continue to grow in Guyana, initiatives like this help normalise rest, encourage self-care and strengthen community support systems. By creating spaces where women can pause, reconnect and grow, Escapé Book Club continues to foster a culture where mental and emotional well-being are valued just as highly as physical health. Camp Escapé is more than a retreat, it is a reminder that every woman deserves the time and space to rest, reset and return to her life feeling restored and empowered.
The participants share a moment after a powerful empowerment activity by guest speaker Mr. Blane Bunbury, titled “Living Your Life as a Vacation.”
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Camille Academy students ace competition, earn spots at all-girls summer camp in Miami, FL.
The three Guyanese students pictured among 25 girls who participated in the all-girls summer camp hosted by Mr. Juan Casimiro, Founder of Casimiro Global Foundation pictured in front row at right. After excelling in a competitive selection process, three students of Camille’s Academy earned the opportunity to attend an all-girls summer camp at Florida International University (FUI) in Miami, USA. The candidates, Renata Bhagwandin, Bhanie Rafick, and Mariah Seenarine who were lauded for their academic excellence, determination, and ability to rise to the challenge, participated in a twoweek camp at FUI where they engaged in activities which fostered, leadership, networking, and developing business ideas. The students also experienced the campus life at FIU. They were selected from among 25 students from the academy who competed in a social impact business competition hosted by the Casimiro Global Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Ladies Leading with Action (Ella Inc.) at Princess Ramada in Guyana, last April. During the initial stage of the pitch, Mr. Juan Casimiro, Founder of the Casimiro Global Foundation praised the students for their excellent preparation and ability to produce under pressure. He stressed on the fact that the students only had a few days to prepare yet they made excellent social impact business pitches and presented them to a panel of judges. Speaking to Kaieteur News about her experience at camp, Bhagwandin, a 15-year-old, Grade 10 student of Camille’s Academy and an Ella Inc. alumna of 2026
said, “I am deeply honoured to have been given the opportunity to represent not only my school, but also my country, Guyana, on an international platform.” She said, “I was ultimately victorious, securing First Place. This achievement earned me one of the prestigious spots to attend a two-week summer camp at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida.” While her journey began on April 27, 2026, when the first phase of the competition was held at the Ramada Princess Hotel in Guyana, Bhagwandin noted that the twoweek experience at Florida International University was truly unforgettable. “It gave me the opportunity to experience university life while meeting young women from diverse backgrounds across seven other Latin American countries.” She noted that one of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the opportunity to engage with and network with representatives from major corporations and organizations as she pitched my Social Venture “Bottles to Bloom.” Bhagwandin asserted, “These experiences opened my eyes to different career possibilities and showed me the importance of networking, leadership, and building meaningful connections. I was proud to share our culture, our people, and what our beautiful country has to offer.” The student expressed her gratitude to those who supported
Camille Academy students Bhanie Rafick, Renata Bhagwandin and Mariah Seenarine attended all-girls summer camp in Miami.
her journey. “My deepest gratitude is to my parents for their unwavering love and encouragement; also I am sincerely grateful to the CEO of Camille’s Academy, Dr. Camille Gorakh, for believing in and supporting me, and to the Founder of the Casimiro Global Foundation, Mr. Juan Casimiro, for creating such a meaningful opportunity for young people like myself,” she said. Rafick, aged 16 years said her experience at the Ella Inc. programme was really enjoyable and something she is grateful that she got to be a part of. During the programme, Rafick
said she learnt a lot about teamwork, communication, leadership, and being more confident. “I also learnt how important it is to listen to other people’s ideas and be open to trying new things. Working on my BioNexis project helped me understand how I can use what I learnt to come up with solutions to problems in my community. Overall, the Ella Inc. programme helped me to grow, become more confident, and gave me an experience that I will always remember.” She lauded Camille’s Academy for creating the opportunity for her
to spend time with her classmates and teacher outside of the normal school environment. “While also meeting new people, we took part in different activities, stayed at FIU, and got to experience things that we normally wouldn’t get to do back home. It was a new experience for me, and I really enjoyed being able to learn while having fun with everyone.” Sixteen-year-old, Mariah Seenarine, an upcoming graduate of Camille’s Academy described the camp as such a wonderful opportunity.” Seenarine related that she got to experience college life and learn a lot about the basics of finance, accounting, college acceptance and the seven mindsets. The student noted that “At the Ella Inc. Camp, we not only visually and auditory learned, we learned kinesthetically also via physical activities like learning to work as a team in the campus and outside of the campus at the tiger tail lake where we conquered our fears of heights.” She concluded, “Overall this camp taught all 25 of us ladies about teamwork, supporting each other and growing our minds for what is yet to come, lastly thank you to my Head teacher, Ms. Camille and Mr. Juan Casmiro for making this experience an unforgettable one and to my parents for the constant support that was given to me throughout this camp.” The Ella, Inc. workshop Continued on page 51
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Sunday August 30, 2026
Govt. deliberately trying to destroy Linden community - Norton Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, has accused the P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration of pursuing an agenda to change the economic landscape of Linden, allowing its supporters to gain greater co n tr o l w hile p u s hin g Lindeners aside. Speaking at the party’s press conference on Friday, Norton said the Government has, in essence, been allowing its supporters on the outskirts of the town to establish “these large commercial industrial enterprises on an already fragile infrastructure with no support.” He said this amounts to “a deliberate attempt to destroy the Linden community and the municipality that governs it.” Norton described the administration’s actions as “vindictive” and “discriminatory,” arguing that they represent an attempt to reshape the economics of Linden. He noted that many of the businesses within the town are owned by Lindeners and argued that when these businesses are deprived of electricity, they are unable to generate income. He also pointed to several large sawmills which, he said, have been integrated into the electricity grid in recent years. “…you’re encouraging them to have standby [generators], so they burden the grid, and when Linden is out of electricity, they can resort to the standby. But I think it is wicked and vindictive, and it does appear to me that the Government has an agenda to change the economics of Linden, to ensure their supporters are in control of the economy of Linden and deprive
Chairman of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton Lindeners of developing their businesses and progressing,” he said. Norton noted that the town has been experiencing constant blackouts and claimed that increased demand from the sawmills is contributing to the electricity woes, while little has been done to increase Linden’s power-generation capacity. Kaieteur News reported on August 27 that APNU Member of Parliament and former Linden Mayor Sharma Solomon called for a longterm development plan for Linden, noting that the town’s ongoing electricity problems are the result of years of poor planning rather than simply a shortage of generating capacity. In a video statement posted to his Facebook page on Wednesday, Solomon said Linden was once capable of powering a major industrial base but is now struggling to meet the demands of a growing population and expanding industrial activity. “Let me say this, we once had the capacity to power an industrial town. We had a 32megawatt steel plant, 16 megawatts sitting at the aluminum plant, and a sevenmegawatt diesel power [station] at the bridge. All of that power fuelled Linden’s industrial endeavours. Now, as we see the town developing today — with sawmills and everything industrial and residential —
we are struggling with 15 megawatts, and struggling with a small addition of 1.2 megawatts,” he stressed. He noted that Linden is now dealing with growing residential and industrial demand while operating with significantly less capacity than before. The former mayor questioned whether the addition of small-scale generation projects, including solar, would be enough to address the town’s long-term needs. He said that while residents may welcome the additional 1.2 megawatts coming on stream, the administration must look beyond individual projects and develop a comprehensive strategy for Linden’s future electricity needs. “Now, with GPL power purchasing, we need to know how those things will integrate into our system, and we still don’t have a longterm, coherent development plan,” Solomon said. He added that Linden needs a programme that would provide reliable and sustainable electricity while taking into account the town’s anticipated residential and industrial expansion. “A long-term programme is what this industrial town needs, so that we move back to reliable, sustainable power, allowing for residential and industrial development to be put into proper perspective,” he said.
Camille Academy students ace competition... From page 50 (Entrepreneurial Ladies Leading with Action) was founded by Juan Pablo Casimiro, who is also the chairman and founder of the Casimiro Global Foundation. Ella, Inc. is a multi-phase exploratory learning programme that teaches and empowers young woman to create social impact ventures that bring value to their communities. The programme gives young women leaders from around the world the opportunity to learn how to create social impact ventures that will make a difference in their communities. Ellas (young women, ages 16-
21), that are accepted to participate in the Ella, Inc. programme, get to optimise their growth development as young leaders, innovators, and social entrepreneurs. With a focus and preference on emerging young women as social entrepreneurs, we are dedicated to create transformative growth and development experiences for youth by empowering them to bring value to the world. We nurture the potential of youth from diverse backgrounds, encouraging entrepreneurship, global awareness, and personal development. The mission is to empower young women to become the leaders and change-makers of tomorrow.
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Edghill issues stern warning to Seawall vendors over unauthorised activities, poor sanitation …says failure to comply with rules will result in permit revocation Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill on Friday convened an urgent meeting with vendors operating along the Kingston Seawall corridor to address a growing list of severe permit violations, including unauthorised activities, poor sanitation, and squatting. According to a statement from the Public Works Ministry, the minister was joined by the Head of the Sea and River Defence Board, Kevin Samad, and the ministry’s technical staff. “The Minister issued a firm ultimatum to operators regarding rampant non-compliance with the established conditions of their provisional approvals,” the ministry reported. At the meeting, the minister focused on several major infractions currently plaguing the corridor, including unauthorised subletting, vendors illegally taking up residence inside their stalls, unauthorised electrical connections, severe noise nuisances, illegal structural extensions, and a complete disregard for sanitation and
maintenance. Expressing disappointment over the deterioration of standards since their last meeting, the minister said, “You all would have written and applied for these spots. You would have gotten provisional approval based upon certain conditions, which is lawful… I’ve had the need to meet with you before to enforce certain standards stipulated in your permits, but now you are backsliding, and hence I am here.” He reminded vendors that the “no vending” and “no noise” zones remain in place and are strictly enforced, highlighting major security and public order issues tied to permit violations. He reiterated that no vending is permitted from the Kitty Roundabout heading east to Sheriff Street, nor heading west to the 1823 Monument. “I see people are coming out in these same spaces. I have spoken to them, yet there has been no redress. So, I am urging you again to comply with the rules, because we will have to come and move everybody,” the Minister warned. “There won’t be a move back in
like the last time; it would be picking you up and moving you completely. Everybody knows their boundaries, so please pull back in where you have to and comply with the rules,” he told vendors. According to the ministry, a critical issue the minister addressed was the transition of mobile vending carts into permanent, unauthorised living quarters. He instructed Mr. Samad and his team that any vendor observed living on the reserve must be immediately removed, noting that this has become a major issue. “A watchman is not living [there]. We know when people are living. You have a bed, stove, bathroom, toilet, and you are telling me it is a watchman. Let me remind you, you are out here to sell,” he told vendors. The minister noted that under the original agreements, vendors are required to operate mobile units. He also made clear that the Government will not entertain future claims for compensation from vendors illegally occupying
the reserve. “We have been lenient, but once development starts to take place, the cries of ‘I was living here and I have to get compensation’ will start. I’ve been hearing it around the country, and I will not tolerate it,” he said. Also at the meeting, the minister raised the unsanitary state of the corridor, noting that the Government has placed nearly 40 garbage receptacles along the seawall. He advised vendors to form a committee among themselves to keep the space clean and well maintained, warning that failure to do so could ultimately result in permit revocation. According to the ministry, patrol teams will continue to actively monitor the area to ensure strict compliance. Minister Edghill announced
that infrastructural works are set to commence shortly to widen the road along the seawall. He said vendors are required to immediately rectify their boundaries and restructure their operations to prevent any obstruction to the imminent national development works. “The maintenance of the Kingston Seawall is paramount, not just as a premier recreational and tourism hub following recent b e a u t i f i c a t i o n e ff o r t s , b u t primarily as a critical sea defence structure protecting the city. Illegal concrete casting, improper waste disposal, and unauthorised utility connections directly threaten the structural integrity and drainage capacity of this coastal defence mechanism,” the ministry said.
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and his team engaging vendors along the Kingston Seawall corridor on a number of permit violations while operating in the area.
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Sunday August 30, 2026
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WIN, APNU 6-member Masked gunmen grab $23M in cash team to pave way for from La Grange hardware store opposition cooperation A three-member team f r o m We I n v e s t i n Nationhood (WIN) and a corresponding three-member team from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) may soon be established to draft terms of engagement between Guyana’s two primary parliamentary opposition forces. According to a joint statement issued by both sides following exploratory talks led by Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed and APNU Chairman, Aubrey Norton on Monday, August 24, “The parties committed that, in the case of WIN, they will hold consultations with their leadership/membership before they decide whether they would agree to name a
three-member team to work along with a three-member team from APNU to develop the general and specific guidelines to govern their engagement with APNU, and, in APNU’s case, it will consult with other parties in its coalition to select a threemember team.” The formal dialogue followed recent developments between the two factions to “discuss matters of mutual concern and the prospects for greater political cooperation in the interest of the people of Guyana.” Specific items placed on the agenda, which originated from “matters in letters being traded between the parties,” focused on three key
governance friction points such as matters relating to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including the appointment of Commissioners and the issue of electoral scrutineers, as well as the ongoing impasse affecting the functioning of the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council; and the nominations to the Local Government Commission.” Joining Mohamed on the WIN delegation were General Secretary Odessa Primus, MP, alongside Parliamentarians Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Natasha Singh, Duarte Hetsberger, and Vishnu Panday. The APNU side featured Norton alongside PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin, Parliamentarians Dr. David Hinds, Ganesh Mahipaul, Coretta McDonald, and Dr. Dexter Todd, as well as Ronald Daniels and Shaneika Haynes. While the statement noted that “the meeting was cordial and provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views,” it explicitly confirmed that “no final decisions were taken on the substantive matters discussed.”
Five masked men, four of whom were allegedly armed with what appeared to be firearms, entered a hardware store on Public Road, La Grange, West Bank Demerara and carted off with $23M in cash on Friday night. According to a statement by the Guyana Police Force, the incident occurred at about 18:20hrs. A 29-year-old Chinese national and businessman told police that the suspects entered the building, held three Chinese
nationals hostage and removed the cash which was kept under a bed. “Initial investigations revealed that the suspects gained entry by climbing over the southern fence from the direction of the Demerara River,” police said. The suspects reportedly escaped through the southern section of the back fence. CCTV footage has been reviewed, and several persons have been questioned. Investigations are ongoing. Police in Regional Division #3 are investigating.
Teen hospitalised after altercation at Sheet Anchor, Berbice …two in custody A 19-year-old man was assaulted and subsequently fell unconscious on Friday at Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), initial investigations disclosed that at about 22:00hrs the 19-year-old, who is unemployed and a resident of Sheet Anchor Village, was in the company of a 27-year-old woman when he became involved in a misunderstanding with three of his male cousins — two aged 19 and one aged
18. The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation, during which the parties allegedly armed themselves with cutlasses and assaulted each other. The 19-year-old was subsequently pulled away from the confrontation by the 27-year-old woman. Approximately five minutes later, he collapsed and lost consciousness. He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was
admitted in an unconscious state. He remains under medical observation and is awaiting the results of a CT scan. No visible wounds were observed on the exposed parts of his body. Detectives visited the scene at approximately 22:10hrs. Two of the alleged participants — males, aged 19 and 18 — are presently in custody at the Central Police Station and are assisting with the investigation. Regional Division #6 are investigating the matter.
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Sunday August 30, 2026
Kaieteur News
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MYLA, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian drone struck a warehouse west of Kyiv that Ukrainian officials say was storing shells, mines and other ammunition, sparking massive explosions and fires that swept through dozens of nearby homes and buildings and killing 37 people. The Friday night attack on the warehouse in Myla, a village in the Bucha district, was the war’s deadliest attack this year and came on the second of three days of nearly round-the-clock Russian strikes that have severely disrupted life in and around the Ukrainian capital. Attacks on the capital and, to a lesser extent, the rest of Ukraine have been nearly constant since Thursday. Kyiv
From page 47 silence had little to do with shame. Many kept their struggles from their families not out of fear, but because they did not want to add worry onto wives already holding the household together. Wellmeaning as it was, that silence still came at a real cost, leaving men to carry serious struggles alone. That same caution followed the men into every medical visit on board. Few felt comfortable being open and honest with healthcare providers about how they were coping, afraid that admitting to struggle could see them declared unfit and their careers ended on the spot.
Many also feared being mocked or judged by coworkers and senior officers if word got around. Between the two fears, men who badly needed support learned instead to hide it, even from the people meant to look after their health. In the absence of any formal support, many of the men turned to what they had. Faith and prayer gave real comfort, a sense of steadiness, and a feeling of staying close to family despite the distance. The company of other crew members helped too, even without long talks about how everyone was doing inside. Sharing a meal or a joke, swapping stories from home, and simply being around people who understood the job, gave the men something to lean on through the harder stretches of a voyage. It was real comfort, but no substi-
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From page 31 girls, all of whom have also consistently excelled at their respective academic levels. In keeping with her eagerness for a challenge, Mary has a hankering for the rigours of outdoor activities. She rides motorcycles, skillfully handles an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), and can even fairly hold her own behind the wheel of her father’s beastly Ford Raptor. She is also a lover of volleyball and enjoys configuring her Lego sets, which she says engage her mind sharply. In addition to video games, she is also a badminton enthusiast. Simply the prelude The repetition of her age
sions,” the president said. Kyiv investigates warehouse targeted in attack In a social media post Saturday, Zelenskyy shed more light on the situation. “The first strike was on an ammunition storage site that definitely shouldn’t have been there – a Defense Forces storage facility. Shells, mines, other ammunition, and drones detonated.” Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi didn’t specify what was in the warehouse, but he referenced a July attack on the Kyiv suburb of Vyshneve that struck an ammunition depot, killing 22 people and triggering detonations and fires that tore through nearby homes. Continued on page 55
tute for mental health care, which simply is not built into life at sea. Naipaul and Persaud are clear about what needs to happen next. The fix, they argue, starts with culture: an environment where seafarers feel safe asking for support and being open about what they are going through, rather than punished for it. From there, practical steps follow, like mental health services that are easy to reach, delivered in seafarers’ own languages by people who understand their faith and culture, alongside training for the mental side of the job. At the heart of it all is a simple idea: a seafarer who speaks up should be met with support, not the fear of losing his livelihood. The story sounds familiar to seafarers everywhere, not just those who took part in
the study, and marks an early step in a larger body of work Naipaul and Persaud intend to build on men’s mental health in the years ahead. For two Guyanese researchers whose work reaches beyond our shores, it is another example of Guyanese scholarship shaping how the world understands a workforce that keeps everything moving, while staying out of sight. WHY THIS MATTERS TO GUYANA? For Guyanese families, these findings reach beyond shipping. Many workers spend long periods at sea, offshore, or abroad supporting loved ones while quietly carrying the emotional strain of separation and responsibility. The study raises a wider question for Guyana: When men are struggling, do we give them room to speak, or make silence easier?
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where and then the detonation began,” Oleksandr Vodolaz, a village resident, told The Associated Press. “No one knew that weapons were stored there.” As crews raced to get people to safety and extinguish blazes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a “terrible situation” and said it appeared to be the result of “terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people.” He noted that Ukrainian law forbids the storage of ammunition close to people’s homes and said criminal proceedings had been opened. “Those who allowed this to happen must be held accountable for their deci-
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officials say Russia builds up missile stocks and launches major attacks every few days, hoping to exhaust Ukrainian defenses through the sheer weight of numbers. The warehouse strike sparked fires that raced through homes and damaged at least 50 residential buildings, said Tymur Tkachenko, who heads the local regional military administration. He was later cited by local media as saying 34 of the people killed were residents of a care home for elderly and disabled people. More than 370 people were evacuated. The blasts rocked Myla, causing people to frantically seek cover. “At about 8 p.m., the drone hit a warehouse some-
is purely for emphasis. That being considered, 13-year-old Ashley is already enrolled at the prestigious Texila American University in Georgetown, where she will pursue studies with the aim of becoming a neurosurgeon. Her remarkable academic journey continues to advance and amaze. Her drive, determination and hunger for knowledge are outlined as an effective template she seeks to copy and paste moving forward in her academic life. She enters university in October. Asked just how prepared she is for not only a change of environment, but also a taxing workload, she asserted, “I would say I’m ready...for it to be hard, (with)
endless studies. I saw my older sister do it, so I believe I can do it too.” The eldest, Maria, is en route to becoming a plastic surgeon; the second, Annie, is pursuing her path to becoming an oncologist. Ashley now joins her two older sisters in a well-maintained, family-backed pursuit of becoming specialist medical doctors, while plans are even prudently being arranged for the youngest, Martha, to become a cardiologist. Asked what her next bestconsidered option is, she pondered extensively, which confirmed that her mind is firmly fixed on realising her dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 30, 2026
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50 contractors bid to repair Russian strike on a Ukrainian... Albion fisherfolk wharf The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority received 50 bids to execute repair works to the Albion fisherfolk wharf in Region Six. According to tender minutes provided by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the project is estimated to cost $133,984,000. Contractors bid between $104 million and $195 million to do the repairs.
The projects will form part of the $67.6 billion which was approved for the Agriculture Ministry in this year’s budget. The government through the ministry has been upgrading a number of these facilities across the country to ensure fisherfolk operate and ply their trade in a more organised and secured space. Below are the companies and their bids:
National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Repairs to the Albion fisherfolk wharf in Corentyne, Region Six.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out a fire in a warehouse following a Russian drone attack near Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) From page 54 “Unfortunately, we can already see that the terrible tragedy in Vyshneve did not become a lesson,” Koretskyi said. “In the fifth year of a full-scale invasion, making the same mistakes is criminal negligence. And all those guilty, without exception, must be severely punished so that such situations do not happen again.” The 37 killed surpassed the 31 who died in a July 2 strike on Kyiv, which had been the war’s deadliest attack of 2026. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it hit a warehouse in Myla that was storing components and launch boosters for longrange drones. It also said it attacked the ports of Mykolaiv and Izmail, and a logistics center and warehouse facilities storing parts for Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missiles in the Kyiv region. Russian jet-powered drones pose a problem for Kyiv Russian strikes damaged homes and apartment blocks in the southern Kherson region on Saturday, killing two people and wounding 27 more, including a child, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the region administration, said in a statement. Prokudin said earlier in the week that Russia had intensified its attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which is about 70% under Russian control. He also urged tens of thousands of residents to move to safer regions because of the possibility of prolonged power and heating outages this winter. Although officials haven’t said whether they were used in the warehouse attack, Russia has significantly increased its use of jet-powered drones, and their numbers will
keep growing as Moscow sees their effectiveness, Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, told reporters Friday. “Means of attack always outpace means of defense. We will certainly need to adapt. It will take time,” Palisa said. He said interceptor drones currently available to Ukraine, which could theoretically intercept jet-powered drones, have not yet demonstrated the expected effectiveness, though Ukraine is working on solutions. Ukraine vows to increase long-range strikes Meanwhile, Ukraine has stepped up its long-range attacks on Russian military industries and energy facilities in recent months. The attacks, which use domestically made drones, are meant to cut into a source of Moscow’s war funding and make Russians feel the consequences. In his evening statement to the nation Friday, Zelenskyy said Kyiv hoped to increase its long-range strikes to reach 1000 drone launches every day. “Right now, we average over 300 of our long-range sanctions,” Zelenskyy said, his preferred term for Kyiv’s long-range attacks that have also lately targeted Russian largescale online retailers. “There must be more. We have a very specific goal, and we will achieve it.” Moscow’s forces destroyed 313 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Saturday. Ukrainian drone attacks wounded 11 people in Russia’s Rostov region, Gov. Yuri Slyusar said. Writing on social media, he said that nine people were hospitalized, including four children.
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Trump: U.S. strikes deal to take control of Venezuela’s 65B barrels of oil WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration has entered a sweeping agreement with Venezuela that, if realized, could give the U.S. access to vast amounts of the South American country’s untapped oil reserves, at cost. Trump in a social media post announcing the agreement said it was negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez. “The United States of America has just entered into an Agreement with the Country of Venezuela on, THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!” Trump wrote. Rodríguez’s government in a statement said the deal involves the development of 17 fields with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels. It said the agreement could draw $100 billion in investment into Venezuela’s oil industry and yield over $209 billion in taxes for Caracas. Rodríguez in a posting on Telegram predicted the deal “will
have a significant impact on our nation’s revival.” The agreement allows for the United States to partner with an unnamed private operator in Venezuela to create a new private company to take hold of the reserves, according to a U.S. official familiar with the contours of the deal. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that Rodríguez granted the company 100-year rights to develop the oil fields. The deal gives the United States 55% effective output of the new private company — including an ownership stake and rights to buy oil at cost. The company would be the second largest corporate holder of proven reserves after Saudi Aramco, according to the official. Trump is under pressure to show he’s lowering oil costs The announcement comes nearly nine months after the U.S. military at Trump’s direction carried out an operation to capture Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face federal
narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges. Trump faces mounting pressure to address high gas prices as the war in Iran on Friday reached a sixmonth milestone with no conclusion in sight. The U.S. has tapped its strategic petroleum reserves, which in early August fell below 300 million barrels, down by more than 100 million barrels since the start of 2026. The U.S.-Israel war against Iran has led to a dramatic slowdown of Gulf oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz, which about 20% of the world petroleum passed through prior to the conflict. The average price of gas in the U.S. stood at about $4.09 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA. The average price was $3.21 at the same time last year. A significant drop in U.S. gas prices tied to the agreement should not be expected immediately. Experts have repeatedly warned that a substantial boost in Venezuelan oil production will not happen quickly as repairing and expanding infrastructure takes years and requires billions of dollars.
Persuading big American oil companies to return the region could face headwinds given the political uncertainty and decades of badly damaged infrastructure. Days after the ouster of Maduro, Trump gathered oil executives at the White House and called on them to rush back into Venezuela. Executives expressed interest in the opportunity but there was also a measure of caution given their past experience in the country. D a r r e n Wo o d s , C E O o f ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil company, said at that moment he saw the country as “un-investable.” But Trump has insisted that his administration has brought a measure of stability to Venezuela. He has argued that Venezuela stole U.S. oil when former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez moved decades ago to nationalize hundreds of foreignowned assets, including those owned by American oil companies. Rodríguez, in one of her early moves after taking power, signed a law that opens the nation’s oil sector to privatization and reversed a bedrock tenet of the selfproclaimed socialist movement
that has ruled the country for more than two decades. Rubio said on X that the agreement would usher in billions in private investment into Venezuela and lead to lower gas prices in the United States. “This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people,” Rubio posted. The oil bought from the new company would go toward filling the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve and toward military use, according to the U.S. official. Venezuela has one of the largest oil reserves in the world, with an estimated 303 billion barrels of crude oil in the ground. That’s about 17% of the world’s supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Unlike other parts of the world, where geologists have to search for untapped oil, the reserves under Venezuela’s soil are largely mapped and known, experts say. But because of dilapidated infrastructure, the country only produces about 1% of the world’s oil. Maduro remains jailed in the U.S. He has pleaded not guilty.
Nepal resumes flood rescue, seeks technical help and billions of dollars …as death toll nears 600 KATHMANDU, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Nepal resumed search and rescue work on Saturday after a brief weather-related suspension as authorities searched for nearly 3,000 missing people following a devastating flood that killed hundreds and tore through a region bordering Tibet. The impoverished Himalayan nation of 30 million people called for specialist foreign assistance and its finance minister told Reuters it would need about $4 billion to $5 billion to rebuild. Triggered by a glacier collapse, a torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris hurtled through mountain river systems on Wednesday, killing at least 669 people in Nepal and seven in China’s Tibet. It swept away buildings, bridges and power stations. Nearly 3,000 people remain missing, including about 2,426 in Nepal and 554 in Tibet’s Gyirong County, among them at least 540 foreign nationals, many of them Hindu pilgrims from India. DECOMPOSED, UNRECOGNISABLE BODIES TO BE BURIED
Search and rescue operations resumed in the afternoon after being temporarily halted because of rain and fog, a police officer in hard-hit Rasuwa district said. “Helicopters are flying and the operation resumed following some improvement in weather,” `he said, on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. On Friday, authorities also suspended rescue work when a lake, formed across the NepalChina border after the flood, began overflowing into Nepal’s Lhende Khola and Trishuli rivers. By Saturday, the risk had eased and parts of the lake bed were visible, Chinese authorities and state broadcaster CCTV said. Satellite images suggested water was slowly draining from the lake, gradually reducing its size, CCTV reported. The lake is one of two upstream of the flood zone being monitored by Nepal. Flood risks will persist until both have fully drained, an official warned. Three days after the disaster, authorities said some bodies being
A person holds an umbrella as he stands in front of damaged buildings after flash floods and a mudslide, in Trishuli, Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 29, 2026. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha recovered had decomposed beyond recognition. They would be buried after legal formalities because of health risks and a fear of disease outbreaks. “DNA samples will be collected, and the bodies will be buried in an open space,” the Chitwan district administration said in a notice. FAMILIES SEARCH FOR THE MISSING In Kathmandu, families of missing people gathered outside Maharajgunj Medical Campus, where some bodies had been taken. Many tried to identify relatives from photographs of the bodies
displayed on gates and boundary walls. In Malaysia, families of 91 citizens listed as “uncontactable” across Tibet and Nepal also waited for news. Manivannan Rethinam, a representative for some ‘of them, urged the foreign ministry to establish a communication channel for faster updates, saying the lack of information was “profoundly painful” for relatives awaiting news. Malaysia’s foreign ministry said search and rescue and verification efforts were continuing. India’s Ministry of
External Affairs said 275 Indian nationals were missing. Survivors also face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Saraswati Ghale, 43, said her home was destroyed in the flood. She recalled scrambling uphill as the water struck, shaking the ground “like there was an earthquake”. “I don’t have anything (left) ... I am saved but who knows how things will pan out,” she said. Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters the government’s initial estimate was that rebuilding would cost between $4 billion and $5 billion.
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Thursday November 24, 2022 Sunday August 30, 2026
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Pogacar requires surgery after Vuelta... Cannabis smell at US... From page 63 clavicle (collarbone). “Fortunately, no other major injuries and no neurological fallout,” said Dr Adrian R o t u n n o , U A E Te a m Emirates’ medical director. “He will require clavicle surgery which will be delayed due to concussion precautions. “Tadej remains under the care of our medical team and we’ll provide further updates following the surgery.” Pogacar was riding in the midst of the peloton when he
came off his bike, having suddenly swerved to his right and colliding with another rider. He was hit from behind by multiple other riders. The Slovenian appeared to try to get back on his bike before shaking his head and sitting down again. He then walked unaided into an ambulance. It is the first time he has abandoned a Grand Tour. The overwhelming favourite to win the threeweek race had started the stage three minutes 50
seconds clear of Spaniard Enric Mas in second place. In what was a chaotic race, another crash occurred in the finishing straight as France’s Bryan Coquard claimed his first stage win in a Grand Tour. The 34-year-old edged L i d l - Tr e k r i d e r M a d s Pedersen in a photo finish. “I think it has been 13 years - it has been a lot of work and I have finished second a lot of times,” Coquard told TNT Sports. “I have not been in good
Sunday August 30, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If work is beginning to feel more like a burden than a joy, it may be time to rethink your job, Aries. Your personality is such that you need lots of room to stretch and grow. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You're especially in tune with the environment and the people around you today. Such sensitivity is new to you, and you aren't exactly sure what to do with the myriad messages that come into your head, seemingly out of nowhere. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're drawn to public service. This desire propels you to volunteer your services with a group of some kind. You may feel a bit awkward at first, but your natural leadership abilities will soon kick in.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It isn't exactly all lightness and harmony at home today, Libra. There's tension in the air and it manifests in silly family arguments. Try to arrange separate activities for siblings, and encourage your partner to eat out with friends, if possible. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This could be a particularly stressful day, Scorpio. Your workload is heavier than ever, thanks to the increased responsibility you've taken on. The day seems endless, yet there aren't enough hours to get done all that needs doing. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Your self-confidence may be a bit low and you could doubt your abilities right now, Sagittarius. Don't get depressed or disheartened. Your skills are excellent.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't take everything at face value today. Information you receive might not be accurate. Someone could be repeating gossip or even creating it just to have something to talk about.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you may feel bored and frustrated with your life's direction, Capricorn. You feel buried under responsibilities, with no time left to do what you really want to do.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be feeling a bit on edge today. Your selfconfidence is shaky and you may feel in need of new challenges. The tedious tasks you have in front of you don't inspire your imagination or creativity.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You're less optimistic and energetic than usual, Aquarius. Your mind feels sluggish - your whole body does, in fact. You're either coming down with the flu or completely and thoroughly disheartened.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You and your mate may be experiencing some differences of opinion. It seems you each have definite ideas about some of life's fundamental values and they aren't completely in sync.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be discouraged about money matters today, Pisces. Perhaps a raise you'd been hoping for didn't come through. Perhaps a professional project didn't work out as you expected.
positions in the first two sprints, I know I have good legs. Maybe I climb better now, I am fast again.” Movistar rider Mas now leads the general classification by one minute 11 seconds from Decathlon CMA CGM rider Felix Gall. He is the first Spaniard to lead the Vuelta since Jesus Herrada in 2018 but a sombre Mas opted not to wear the red jersey when presented with it on the podium, instead holding it in front of him. “It’s a real shame,” Mas said about Pogacar. “I hope he gets better quickly. We’ve still got a few races left and I hope he’ll be in good shape for them.” Six-time Grand Tour winner Pogacar was on course to win all three of the sport’s biggest stage races, having already won five Tours de France and a Giro d’Italia. Having become the joint most successful Tour de France champion of all time last month, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider is aiming to become the ninth rider to win all three Grand Tours. Pogacar has also won almost all of the sport’s biggest races. In addition to his multiple stage race victories, the two-time road world champion has won 13 one-day monument races, including the Tour of Flanders (three times), Milan-San Remo (once), Il Lombardia (five times) and Liege-Bastogne-Liege (four times). In 2025, he recorded his best finish of second in the other monument - ParisRoubaix.
From page 58 that, in my first round, and I said to the guy, ‘is this normal?’” said Jones, whose tournament begins against Poland’s Magda Linette on Monday. “Because I was on the stadium, and it’s next to the park. He’s like, ‘yeah”. and I was like: ‘Well, no wonder I’m playing pretty well.’ “This year I’ll be like ‘no, lock in, lock in!’” After beating British compatriot Heather Watson in qualifying to set up a first-round match against the United States’ Peyton Stearns, Dart said: “I mean it’s New York. It’s New York. “I feel like everywhere you walk around, it’s everywhere, no? “It is what it is. Same for everyone.”
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Sunday August 30, 2026
WTC scenarios: five teams with a realistic chance of reaching the title round (Cricinfo) - India’s inability to eke out a win in the Colombo Test means they have lost out on eight crucial WTC 2025-27 points, while Australia’s campaign is back on track after they thumped Bangladesh in Mackay. With 33 matches still to go in this cycle, here’s a look at what teams need to do to reach the 60% mark, a score that should give them a reasonable chance of qualifying for the final. ALL WTC 2025-27 FIXTURES: Australia Tests: 10, W-L-D: 8-2-0, Pct 80.00 Remaining series: vs SA (a), vs NZ (h), vs Ind (a) - 12 Tests Australia’s two-day win in Mackay has pushed their percentage up to 80. In 12 remaining Tests, they need 63 more points to finish this cycle with 60%, which means they need only five wins and a draw. However, they will want much more than 60%, given where they are currently. Six wins will take them to 63.63, while seven wins and five losses will leave them on 68.18. (All calculations assume they aren’t docked any points.) Only four of their 12 remaining Tests are at home - all against New Zealand - while their eight remaining matches are all tough overseas assignments: three in South Africa and five in India, where they have won only two of
their last 12 Tests. Thus, while they are comfortably placed at the moment, Australia still have plenty of work to do to make sure they finish in the top two. South Africa Tests: 4, W-L-D: 3-1-0, Pct 75.00 Remaining series: vs Aus (h), vs Ban (h), vs Eng (h), vs SL (a) - 10 Tests South Africa’s three away series this cycle were all in the subcontinent - in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka - and they have done exceptionally well in that examination so far, drawing 1-1 in Pakistan and shocking India 2-0. They now have the luxury of playing eight of their ten remaining Tests at home, though three of those are against table-toppers Australia. To get to 60%, South Africa need 65 more points, which they can get with five wins and a couple of draws. Six wins and four losses in their remaining matches will take them to 64.28%, while a 7-3 output will mean 71.43, and near-certain qualification. New Zealand Tests: 6, W-L-D: 4-1-1, Pct 72.22 Remaining series: vs Ind (h), vs Aus (a), vs SL (h), vs Pak (a) - 10 Tests New Zealand are currently sitting pretty after series wins
West Indies have had some happy results of late but are not in the running for the WTC final. (AFP/Getty Images) against West Indies (home) and England (away), but among their ten remaining matches is a tough four-Test examination in Australia. From the remaining 120 points on offer, they need 64 to achieve 60%, which they can get with five wins and a draw. Four of those victories could come in their home season, if they win all Tests against India and Sri Lanka. For a place in the final, though, they probably need more than just home success: with six wins and four losses they will finish
Cannabis smell at US Open is distracting - Boulter (BBC Sport) - British number one Katie Boulter has complained that the smell of cannabis is putting her off her game at the US Open. On Sunday, the final major of the season begins at Flushing Meadows in New York, where cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over. Though smoking is not permitted on site, the smell of cannabis wafts on to court from nearby Corona Park and has bothered a number of players in previous years, including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Boulter, who is preparing to face American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round, says it is possible to smell cannabis “a lot” on the practice courts. “I’m not a huge fan of it,” said Boulter, the world number 60. “I know a lot of players have complained on some of the specific courts. I’ve played on one before and I did smell it during my match. “It’s something that I wouldn’t like to smell in the middle of my match. I’m trying to focus and then obviously, it takes you out of the
Katie Boulter reached the third round of the US Open in 2023. (Getty Images) moment and you really don’t want to. “You don’t need distractions. So yeah, I wasn’t a huge fan of it.” The smell of cannabis has been a persistent issue at the US Open. In 2022, Australian Open doubles champion Nick Kyrgios complained that a fan was triggering his asthma by smoking courtside, prompting the umpire to ask supporters to refrain. Greece’s Maria Sakkari pointed the smell out to an umpire midway through a set in 2023, later clarifying that it wasn’t an excuse for her defeat.
The United States Tennis Association, which organises the event, says it works with the local police and parks department to reduce smoking on the site boundary. It said: “While we can’t control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we continue to be vigilant as we maintain this.” Britain’s Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, who both qualified on Friday, have also noticed the smell. “Last year I made a joke about Continued on page 57
on 64.58%, while seven wins and three losses will leave them on 70.83%. Bangladesh Tests: 6, W-L-D: 3-2-1, Pct 55.56 Remaining series: vs WI (h), vs SA (a), vs Eng (h) - 6 Tests Despite the defeat in Mackay, Bangladesh are still in the running to finish with a 60% score, which could keep them in contention for a top-two finish. To do that, they need 47 more points in their six remaining Tests - wins in each of their four remaining home Tests, against West Indies and England, will get them there. If they win one more Test apart from those four, their percentage will shoot up to 69.44, which will give them an excellent chance of qualification. The key, though, will be to ensure they maximise the returns from their home matches. India Tests: 11, W-L-D: 5-4-2, Pct 51.52 Remaining series: vs NZ (a), vs Aus (h) - 7 Tests The inability to bowl Sri Lanka out on the final day and claim 12 points from the Colombo Test means India have dropped to 51.52%, and need 62 more points from their seven remaining Tests to reach 60%. That means they need at least five wins and a draw. Depending on other results, even that may not be enough: in the last cycle, the finalists finished with 69.44 (South Africa) and 67.54% (Australia). Five wins and two losses will leave them on 59.3%, while six wins and a loss will see them finish on 64.8%. If they win all seven, they’ll end up with 70.37%. Thus, India have very little margin for error through the rest of their campaign. Sri Lanka Tests: 6, W-L-D: 1-2-3, Pct 33.33
Remaining series: vs Pak (a), vs NZ (a), vs SA (h) - 6 Tests With only 24 points in the bag after six Tests, Sri Lanka have left themselves with plenty to do in the second half of the cycle. In six remaining Tests, they need 63 points to touch 60%, which means they need five wins and a draw at least. Six wins will take them to 66.67%. Given that two of those six Tests will be in New Zealand early next year, winning each of their remaining matches looks an extremely tough ask. England Tests: 14, W-L-D: 5-8-1, Pct 29.76 Remaining series: vs Pak (h), vs SA (a), vs Ban (a) - 7 Tests As if a 5-8 win-loss record wasn’t bad enough, England have also been horribly tardy with overrates in this WTC cycle, being docked 14 points so far. That means 64 points from five wins and a draw has been reduced to 50. Even if they win each of their seven remaining Tests without losing further penalty points, they will only finish on 53.17%, which is highly unlikely to be enough for a spot in the final. West Indies Tests: 12, W-L-D: 2-8-2, Pct 20.83 Remaining series: vs Ban (a) - 2 Tests With just two Tests remaining, the maximum that West Indies can finish on is 32.14%. Pakistan Tests: 7, W-L-D: 2-5-0, Pct 19.05 Remaining series: vs Eng (a), vs SL (h), vs NZ (h) - 6 Tests With two wins and five losses, Pakistan have had a poor campaign so far, further compounded by eight penalty points. If they win all six remaining Tests, they will still only finish on 56.41%, which is highly unlikely to be enough for qualification.
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Concerns and observations with the Global Super League DEAR EDITOR, I am a cricket fan at heart. I first fell in love with the game at the age of nine or ten while watching matches on television with my grandmother. Since then, I have followed the sport passionately, attended matches locally and even travelled overseas to watch live cricket. I was therefore delighted to see Guyana host the 2026 Global Super League. While I commend the opportunity to bring another tournament to our shores, my experiences as a spectator highlighted several issues that I believe deserve public attention. I wish to share these concerns in the hope that they can be addressed before future tournaments. I also wish to make it clear that I am not a supporter of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, but I firmly believe every individual has the right to support whichever franchise they choose. My first concern relates to the scheduling of matches throughout the Global Super League. Over the course of the 10-day tournament, each team was required to play four matches. However, while the four visiting teams each had to play a combination of day and night fixtures, the Guyana Amazon Warriors played exclusively under lights. In my opinion, this gave the home team the advantage of competing in the same playing conditions throughout the tournament, while every other team had to adapt to both daytime and nighttime conditions. Although I understand the desire to maximize attendance and television
viewership by scheduling Guyana’s matches at night, I question whether this created a level playing field. The scheduling also affected supporters of the visiting teams. For example, the Perth Scorchers represent Western Australia, which is approximately 12 hours ahead of Guyana, while parts of eastern Australia, including Sydney, are 14 hours ahead. A 10:00 a.m. start in Guyana meant a late-night start in Australia, with matches finishing in the early hours of the morning. Visiting supporters had to contend with these inconvenient viewing times on two occasions, whereas supporters of the Guyana Amazon Warriors were able to watch all of their team’s matches at convenient evening hours. I respectfully submit that a tournament of this standard should strive to provide equal playing conditions and a fair experience for both competing teams and their supporters. My second concern relates to the condition of the seating and general maintenance at Providence Stadium. During one of the day matches, I was assigned Red Stand, Block 135, Row 3, Seat 1, only to discover that the seat was damaged, with the backrest broken halfway up. This posed a potential safety hazard, as spectators could easily scrape or cut themselves on the exposed edges. Fortunately, because attendance was relatively low, I was able to move to another seat and continue enjoying the match. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. At a later Guyana
Amazon Warriors match, my friend and I were allocated Green Stand, Block 128, Row 4, Seats 1 and 2. One of the seats was cracked and uncomfortable to sit on. When I informed a member of staff, I was told that the damaged seat had already been reported but had not yet been repaired. Thankfully, he kindly relocated us to nearby vacant seats, allowing us to watch the remainder of the match comfortably. I am grateful for his professionalism and willingness to assist, but it raised an important question: what would have happened if the match had been sold out and there were no alternative seats available? In addition to the damaged seating, I also noticed that many seats in the Red Stand were badly faded, giving the facility a neglected appearance. With the Caribbean Premier League approaching, including the consistently well-attended fixtures against the Trinbago Knight Riders, I believe spectators deserve a venue that is properly maintained. Guyana has earned a reputation for hosting cricket, and ensuring that paying patrons are provided with safe, functional, and wellmaintained seating should be a basic expectation rather than a luxury. Beyond the condition of the seating, I also noticed a decline in the overall spectator experience when compared with previous international tournaments hosted at Providence. Having attended two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches at the venue in 2024, I witnessed firsthand the high standard that
Guyana is capable of achieving. While the Global Super League has successfully attracted teams from the United States, Australia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, I believe several features that enhanced the fan experience during the World Cup were noticeably absent. During the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the electronic advertising boards around the boundary were used not only for commercial advertisements but also to display the names and photographs of the incoming batsman and the bowler currently in operation. This greatly enhanced the viewing experience, particularly for spectators who may not have been familiar with every player on the field. Unfortunately, this feature was absent during the Global Super League. With teams representing the United States, Australia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, many of the participating players were unfamiliar to sections of the local audience. As someone who follows cricket closely and enjoys watching leagues from around the world, I recognized most of the players. However, I overheard spectators referring to Ashton Agar simply as “the bald-headed man” and another supporter asking when “the tall white fast bowler” would return to bowl, a comment I believe referred to Brody Couch. (I have quoted these remarks only to illustrate the d i ff i c u l t y s o m e s p e c t a t o r s experienced in identifying unfamiliar players.) Simple enhancements, such as displaying
players’ names and photographs on the electronic boundary boards, would make the matches more engaging and educational for casual supporters and those attending international cricket for the first time. In addition, the current scoreboard is difficult to read from several sections of the stadium. As Guyana continues to establish itself as a destination for cricket, investing in larger and more visible scoreboards, similar to those found at other Caribbean venues, would further improve the experience for spectators. In closing, I wish to emphasize that these concerns are offered in the spirit of constructive criticism. I hold no animosity toward the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, their supporters, or anyone involved in organizing the tournament. On the contrary, I am proud that Guyana continues to host international cricket and showcase our country on the world stage. My hope is simply that the relevant authorities will address these concerns before future tournaments and the upcoming Caribbean Premier League. By ensuring fair scheduling, maintaining safe and comfortable facilities, and enhancing the overall spectator experience, Guyana can continue to build on its reputation as one of the Caribbean’s premier destinations for cricket. As someone who has loved this game since childhood, I want nothing more than to see cricket in Guyana continue to grow and succeed. Saif Khan
All Round Narine steals the show Trinbago Knight Riders secured a very comfortable seven wicket victory against the Barbados Tridents at the Queen’s Park Oval in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Sunil Narine starred with bat and ball as the defending champions dominated the Tridents. A ruthless bowling performance from the Knight Riders set up a comfortable chase as home conditions prevailed in Trinidad. Putting the Tridents into bat first, Nicholas Pooran opted to stay away from pace in the early stages, trusting his spin options to take control of the PowerPlay. And take control they did as the Barbados side were 31 for 1 after the first six. That period saw a fascinating attacking approach from Pooran as Kieron Pollard went under the lid and in at silly point and short leg. The decision was well-judged as the pitch provided plenty of turn from the outset and the amount of spin made it extremely tricky for the Tridents’ batters to get on top of
Sunil Narine and Colin Munro put on a solid start for TKR. (Smartframe) any of the TKR bowlers. Usman Tariq continued to tie down the Tridents with a wonderful spell of
bowling where he only conceded 11 runs with the wicket of Zachary Carter for his efforts. Carter
himself had been steady but was unable to convert a good start into a significant innings as he fell for 28. Pooran rode the crest of the wave and put his faith in as many off-speed bowlers as possible. Often putting fielders in the slips and in close again to continue attacking. The Knight Riders were relentless as wickets fell through the middle period. Sunil Narine’s performance was evergreen as the 38-year-old took 2 for 14 from his 4 overs. Barbados captain Chris Green looked like the only Trident who could get the ball away as he slogged away before eventually falling to a slower ball from Pollard for 27. A last gasp burst from Rivaldo Clarke took the Tridents to 127 for 9 at the end of their innings. A low total, but no given by any means with the surface playing as it did. It seemed the opening pair of Colin Munro and Sunil Narine had taken notes on how to play the pitch and the Tridents spinners did not have the same effect their
opponents had early on. The PowerPlay yielded 60 runs for no loss as Munro, and in-particular, Narine got the home crowd on their feet and sent the ball flying around the Queen’s Park Oval. It wasn’t long after, that Narine was raising his bat, backing up his terrific night with the ball with a pinch-hitting masterclass at the top of the order. The Tridents luck was not in as catches went in and out of hands and fell short of fielders by a few feet. Green was rewarded for his good work with the wicket of Munro. The 96 partnership between him and Narine was the highest opening stand of the tournament so far. The Tridents did get some consolations with the wickets of Narine and Nicholas Pooran. But Kieron Pollard and Jyd Goolie were able to canter home and secure a much needed victory for the Knight Riders. The Knight Riders go again tomorrow night against the Kingsmen. The Tridents face the Patriots on Tuesday.
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Montra Restaurant and Lounge extends support for Lotto/Let’sBet T10 Tapeball The fusion of grassroots fervour and broadcast fanfare that defines the Lotto/Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast will maintain one of its trademark soundbites in Season IV, as Montra Restaurant and Lounge renewed its partnership with the tournament. The deal ensures the iconic ‘Montra Maximums’ commentary tag will once again anchor the live-stream coverage as big hitters clear the ropes across Guyana. Montra’s involvement with the tournament runs deep, though their footprint looks slightly different this year. Having entered as a team owner under the Jaguars banner in Seasons II and III —a run that saw them finish national runners-up in 2024 before capturing the Berbice zone title in 2025—the entity is not fielding a side for the fourth season. However, lead director Kumar Sarran’s commitment to grassroots development ensured the brand remained firmly attached to the competition as a commercial partner. During a recent ceremonial handover, Dinesh Bissessar, who managed the Jaguars during their successful campaigns, lauded the tournament’s trajectory and its impact on the local scene. “This tournament has given tapeball cricket the structure, visibility, and prestige it
Akeem Greene (left), representing FL Sport and Dinesh Bisessar, representing Montra Restaurant and Lounge. long deserved in Guyana,” Bissessar said. “Even though we aren’t taking the field as a team this season, staying involved was essential for us. Having experienced the high level of competition firsthand—from reaching the finals in 2024 to winning in Berbice last year—we know the positive impact this platform has on players and
communities.” Speaking on behalf of tournament organisers FL Sport, Akeem Greene expressed appreciation for a corporate entity that has essentially grown alongside the league. “Montra has become truly synonymous with the One Guyana T10 Blast,” Greene
noted. “When fans tune into the broadcast and hear ‘Montra Maximums’, it represents a genuine partnership built on supporting local talent. We are deeply grateful for Kumar Sarran and his team’s continued faith in our vision, and we look forward to building on this relationship in the years to come.” On the field, the fourth edition of the tournament has already produced compelling action, with three regional champions officially crowned. Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars secured the Berbice zone title, Mahdia – Movements Family dominated the East Bank/West Demerara zone, and Lusignan Bulls DTP II claimed victory in Essequibo. The tournament now turns its attention to the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Zone, slated to run across two weekends on September 26–27 and October 3–4, with the zonal finals taking place at the Enmore Community Centre Ground. Once the final zonal winner is determined, the action shifts to Essequibo for the grand finale. All roads lead to the Anna Regina National Stadium on Sunday, October 11, where the nation’s premier tapeball outfits will collide for the top cash prizes of $2 million, $1 million, and $500,000.
Slow start makes me want Itauma punches himself out against Hrgovic in world-title fight to stay - Norris extends McLaren deal to 2030 Filip Hrgovic has picked up 15 of his 20 wins by stoppage. (Getty Images)
(BBC Sport) - Filip Hrgovic ripped up the script and shattered Moses Itauma’s world-title dream as the Briton appeared to punch himself out in an extraordinary heavyweight contest in London. Itauma, 21, controlled most of the fight and scored a second-round knockdown but faded as his relentless output caught up with him. Hrgovic weathered the storm and piled on the pressure in the ninth. With Itauma barely able to stand, his legs unsteady and body swaying before slumping in the corner, his team threw in the towel. Itauma - who needed medical attention before leaving the arena on a stretcher - had been a heavy favourite after tearing through his first 14 opponents and was spoken about as heavyweight boxing’s next superstar. “He is the best I have been in the ring with,
but he needs more experience. I knew I was losing the round, but I knew that I had the pace in my favour. He needs more experience, but he is one of a kind,” Hrgovic said. “From the first round, I saw his gassing out. He started fast. I knew he was going to gas out. I knew when my chance came I needed to push. That is what I did.” With the vacant IBF title on the line, victory would have made Itauma the secondyoungest world champion in the division’s history. Instead, his inexperience began to show as his Croatian opponent - an Olympic bronze medallist whose only previous professional defeat came against Daniel Dubois - survived everything Itauma threw at him before completing a remarkable turnaround.
(BBC Sport) - Lando Norris says signing a new contract that will keep him at McLaren until at least the end of 2030 was “quite an easy yes for me”. The world champion, whose new deal was announced on Saturday, said he “didn’t even have a look” at other teams before deciding to commit his future to the team he has been with since his Formula 1 debut in 2019. “There was some interest from elsewhere,” Norris said in an interview with BBC Sport, “but I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to be with another team. I don’t want to spend time with other people. “That’s why it really was probably one of the easiest decisions I’ve made since being in Formula 1.” The Briton had no need to rush his decision to commit to McLaren because his existing contract still had more than a year to run. But he says the idea “became a topic of conversation over the last four months or so, but very loosely in the background” and he had no hesitation in agreeing. Norris says his loyalty to McLaren is based on the relationships he has within the team - starting with chief executive officer Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella - and their shared history. After Norris made his F1 debut in
Lando Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019. (Getty Images) 2019, they spent several years struggling for competitiveness, before their form turned around quickly after Stella was promoted at the end of 2022. The team won consecutive constructors’ championships in 2024 and 2025 ending a drought that went back to 1998 - and the drivers’ title for Norris last year. The 26-year-old said: “The fact I stuck it through with them and then we went on to obviously have success certainly makes me feel like I don’t want to... they didn’t give up on me and I didn’t give up on them. “That just creates a very strong bond between everyone that works here. I want to believe that bond stays as strong as it is now ‘til I do retire in my career at Formula 1. “I know that’s a long, long way away and I don’t want to think of it. But I believe we’re in the best place we’ve ever been even with a tough start to the season. And I believe that we can fight through anything together for sure.”
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2026 Republic Bank CPL… Liverpool agree £123m
deal for PSG’s Barcola Historic rivals to meet as Guyana/T&T continue storied battle
Shimron Hetmyer. (Getty Images)
By Clifton Ross The ultimate rivalry in cricket resumes tonight as the Guyana Amazon Warriors lock horns with arch-rivals Trinbago Knight Riders come tonight at the historic Queen’s Park Oval, T&T. The highly anticipated match brings together two powerhouse franchises aiming to assert dominance in the tournament. The Amazon Warriors arrive in Trinidad with an unblemished, ruthless 3-0 record after a string of good wins. The Guyanese franchise has completely dismantled their opponents early this season, bowling out Jamaica for 117, restricting the Kings to 151 and rolling over the Falcons for just 116. C o n v e r s e l y, t h e defending champion Trinbago Knight Riders have faced early roadblocks but bounced back in their last match, easily chasing down 127 against the Barbados Tridents. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd gives TKR a massive boost, but they face their steepest mountain yet.
Players to Watch Shimron Hetmyer Batting with absolute intent, Hetmyer has treated run chases like a personal mission. His explosive middle-order hitting remains Guyana’s primary weapon to d i s m a n t l e T r i n i d a d ’s spinners. Sunil Narine - Fresh off a Player of the Match performance against the Tridents, the former Amazon Warrior himself singlehandedly suffocated the opposition’s scoring. His four overs will dictate how easily Guyana can control the middle stretch, while his pinchhitting will also come into play. Shamar Joseph - After returning from injury with intent, Joseph, pacing at 150kph, continues to provide the raw, aggressive fastbowling element that can crack open TKR’s starstudded top order early under the lights, while his recent form and cluster of returns in Wickets will be a huge xfactor going forward. Nicholas Pooran A n o t h e r f o r m e r, k e y Amazon Warriors player, Pooran now captaining the TKR unit, holds the crucial
anchor-and-accelerate role. If he survives Guyana’s initial pace, his ability to manipulate spin could shift the balance entirely. Both teams nevertheless have a wide variety of worldclass options at their disposal, with players like Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Kieron Pollard and others having CPL history on their side. Warriors will also bank on their core match winners like All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, skipper Imran Tahir, Shai Hope and others who have been integral in their success to date. Tactically, the Amazon Warriors boast a 100% win record in the tournament so far and have not allowed a single opponent to cross the 155-run mark across their opening matches. TKR forced a commanding 7wicket victory with 31 balls to spare in their recent outing to correct their negative netrun rate. In all, fans can expect a tactical chess match between two formidable, well-versed teams with tons to offer in their respective spin departments. Match bowls off at 19:00h.
(BBC Sport) - Liverpool have agreed a can keep him at that level because I think he deal worth up to £123m for Paris St-Germain has been very influential in our games,” Iraola he said. forward Bradley Barcola. Forest agree £22m deal PSG initially valued the France attacker at with Palace for Munoz £145m, but the Reds have agreed a package Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal worth an initial £106m with £17m in potential worth a minimum of £22m to sign Daniel add-ons. The 23-year-old is expected to have a Munoz from Crystal Palace. The Colombia international has now been medical this weekend before signing a longgiven permission to have a medical before term contract at Anfield. Right-footed Barcola prefers to play on joining Forest. The deal will reunite Munoz with Forest the left wing and his impending arrival will increase the doubts around Cody Gakpo’s boss Oliver Glasner, who worked with the full-back during his time in charge at Selhurst future at Liverpool. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport Park. Talks over the move have been ongoing both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have shown interest in the Netherlands for several days and accelerated after Palace’s 4-1 defeat by Manchester City on Friday. forward. Munoz joined Palace from Belgian side Liverpool are also in the market for a right-winger, having explored moves for Genk in 2024 and has been a key player for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr. Barcola has become a main target for Liverpool as they look to bolster their attack following the departures of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in the past two summers. He moved to PSG from Lyon in 2023 for a reported £38.5m and has won three Ligue 1 titles, two Bradley Barcola joined PSG from Lyon Champions Leagues, the for £38.5m in 2023 (Getty Images) French Cup twice, as well as the Uefa Super Cup and the the Eagles in recent seasons, playing a crucial Fifa Intercontinental Cup. The fee Liverpool have agreed to pay part in the club’s historic FA Cup and Europa includes covering a solidarity payment PSG Conference League triumphs under Glasner. The 30-year-old has just under two years owe Lyon as part of the deal that took Barcola left on his current deal and Palace are to Paris three years ago. Barcola, who scored three goals for prepared to sell this summer. Palace signed Anan Khalaili from France in this summer’s World Cup, can also play on the right or through the middle and Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise could provide cover for Alexander Isak while earlier this summer and the Israel Hugo Ekitike recovers from a serious international is expected to take Munoz’s place in Pierre Sage’s team. Achilles injury. Munoz has made 109 appearances for Speaking before Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest (12:30 BST), Reds boss Palace, scoring 11 goals, and played in their Andoni Iraola was asked about Gakpo’s opening 2-0 Premier League defeat at future and said he “cannot guarantee Everton. However, he was an unused anything”, but wants to keep the 27-year-old subsitute in the loss to City. Forest have also launched an ambitious at the club. “[Gakpo] has been very good since he bid - £40m plus a potential sell-on clause - to came back from the World Cup and his sign Everton’s teenage midfielder Harrison holiday, with a very good attitude. I hope we Armstrong.
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Beyond a Boundary: CWI High-Performance Camp Focuses on Developing the Complete Young Cricketer ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – For the 22 young female cricketers selected for Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) High-Performance Camp in Antigua, the opportunity to develop themselves extended well beyond the cricket field, with a series of sessions focused on mental development, media awareness, leadership and preparing them for the demands of a career in international cricket. The two-week camp, which immediately followed the 2026 Rising Stars Wo m e n ’s U n d e r - 1 9 Championship, forms part of CWI’s deliberate pathway towards the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2027. While technical, tactical, and physical development were central to the programme, CWI placed equal importance on developing the personal qualities and professional skills required to succeed at the highest level. A key component of the programme was a mental development session designed to help the players better understand the psychological demands of
The two-week camp immediately followed the 2026 Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship
high-performance sport. The young cricketers were encouraged to consider areas such as mindset, confidence, managing pressure, resilience, and maintaining focus as they progress through their careers. They also participated in a dedicated media training session, giving them practical experience in handling interviews, communicating effectively and understanding their responsibilities as
representatives of West Indies cricket. Through interactive activities and simulated interview situations, the players were challenged to think about how they communicate their experiences, respond under pressure and present themselves confidently in public and media environments. CWI High-Performance Manager Dwain Gill said the i n c l u s i o n o f o ff - f i e l d
development is an essential part of preparing the players for the next stage of their careers. “Our responsibility is not only to develop better cricketers, but to help develop young people who understand what it means to operate in a high-
performance environment and represent West Indies cricket. The mental, media, and personal development sessions were therefore an important part of this camp. These are young players who are potentially moving towards an international stage, and we want to equip them with the tools, confidence and awareness they need to navigate that journey successfully.” The players also engaged with CWI’s Management and Staff during a session led by Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring, who welcomed the opportunity to connect directly with the players. “It was important to spend time with these young women, hear their stories, learn about their journeys, and better understand what is needed from us as an organization. It provided an opportunity for us to ensure they understand that they are not alone in their journey as
their development is a priority for us, indeed, the very purpose for CWI’s existence. We also wanted to give them a sense of where CWI is heading, particularly with the development of the High-Performance Centre and other new facilities to be established in their home countries. Their enthusiasm and determination, despite some very challenging domestic circumstances, was inspirational to say the least. We are committed to giving these talented young cricketers the support, facilities and pathways needed to develop and perform at the highest level.” For the 22 Rising Stars, the experience is therefore about more than preparing for a World Cup. It is about gaining the knowledge, confidence and professional awareness required to take the next step in their cricketing journeys, and to understand their place in the future of West Indies cricket.
Guyana makes history with 3rd-Place debut finish at FIFAe Continental C’ship
Guyana’s campaign painstakingly ended at the semifinal stage. The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) proudly celebrates Guyana’s historic thirdplace finish on Friday last, at the inaugural FIFAe Continental Championship North, Central America and Caribbean by Concacaf in Mexico City, Mexico. Guyana’s historic campaign concluded following two intense semifinal matches against Costa Rica which saw the first being played to a 1 – 1 stalemate then Costa Rica needled (0 – 1) Guyana to progress. Guyana officially secured 3rd place in its debut appearance at the Continental Championship, marking a major milestone for the nation and the continued development of football esports in Guyana. Significantly, Guyana was the only English-speaking country to finish in the Top 3, further underlining the magnitude of the achievement on the regional stage. “Football has always given Guyana a reason to dream. Now esports is expanding
that dream. Our responsibility is to turn moments like this into a movement, to build the pathways, raise the standard, and ensure that wherever the future of football is being shaped, Guyana has a place in it,” stated Martin Massiah, Head Coach & Head of eSports. Guyana’s official contingent in Mexico comprised of Christian Harris (christian89) and Jeremiya Johnson (jrboss2000) of the National eFootball™ Mobile Squad, Martin Massiah, Head Coach & Head of eSports, and Daniel Idal, Assistant Coach, Official Streamer & Media Operations Lead. The GFF commends the entire contingent for proudly representing Guyana throughout the historic campaign. From making its debut at the first-ever Continental Championship to reaching the semifinals and securing 3rd place, the campaign represents a major step forward for Guyana’s football esports programme and establishes a strong foundation for the future.
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Multi Million Dollars Price Is Right/UCCA T20 Cricket final set for today All is set for the final of the 2026 edition of the mega Price Is Right/ Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) T20 Second Division cricket competition, today, Sunday 30th August. The venue is the No 69 Vikings Ground, Corentyne Berbice. The finalists are defending champion No72 Cut and Load and arch rivals No 72 All Stars, in what is expected to be a grudge match since the same two teams met in the final in 2025. The action starts at 12:00 hrs. With so much at stake, a keen and close encounter was envisaged in what is arguably the biggest Second Division cricket competition in Guyana. The competition is sponsored exclusively by Danesh Roopnarine [Boyco] of the Price Is Right Supermarket, of Corriverton, Corentyne which also has a number of other branches on the Corentyne Coast. Massive rewards including cash, trophies, gear and equipment and other incentives are up for grabs. The champion team will walk away with over $500,000 in incentives including cash trophies and other memorabilia. The runner up gets over $250,000 in similar rewards. The losing semi-finalists take away $50,000 each and a trophy. The best batsman, best bowler and MVP in the final will receive a new bat, a pair of boots, a trophy and $10,000 respectively. In addition, the tournament’s top performing wicket keeper, batsman with most runs and the bowler with most wickets will receive a pair of gloves, a pair batting pads and a pair of cricket boots respectively. The Final will be live streamed with ball by ball commentary. A concert and show featuring Crown Vibes International Sounds and local artistes is also on the cards. Some 24 teams were slated to participate in the competition this year. The other teams that participated were Crabwood Creek Sports Club, Crabwood Creek Bomb Squad, Crabwood All Family , No 70 Sports Club , Line Path Raptors, Skeldon Community Centre Titans, Scottsburg United, No. 73 Young Warriors, No. 71 Sports Club, No. 70 MYO, No. 69 Vikings, No. 68 Turn Team , No. 64 Fighting Marines, No. 48 Challengers, No. 43 Scorpions, Yakusari Caribs, Molsen Creek Wolf Warriors, Yakusari Horizon, No 72 Hong Kong, No 69 Red Rose, Grill Master Avengers, and Skeldon Jaguars. (Samuel Whyte)
Pogacar requires surgery after Vuelta crash
Tadej Pogacar has won three consecutive Tour de France titles (Getty Images) (BBC Sport) - Tadej Pogacar requires surgery on a broken collarbone after sustaining multiple injuries in the crash that led to him abandoning the Vuelta a Espana. Race leader and world champion Pogacar, who was aiming to complete a full set of Grand Tour victories, crashed with about 33km remaining of Saturday’s eighth stage and was taken to hospital. In an update on Saturday night, his team’s doctor said the 27-year-old suffered a concussion, a “stable” fracture in his neck and multiple abrasions, in addition to his broken left Continued on page 57
Last year’s winner, No 72 Cut and Load, collects their winning prize and trophy from Sponsor Danesh ‘Boyco’ Roopnarine
2026 Republic Bank CPL…
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Historic rivals to meet as Guyana/ T&T continue storied battle
Guyana Amazon Warriors remain unbeaten in this edition of the Republic Bank CPL. (Getty Images)
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Guyana’s contingent comprised of Christian Harris, Jeremiya Johnson, Martin Massiah, Head Coach & Head of eSports and Daniel Idal, Assistant Coach, Streamer & Media Op.
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Guyana makes history with 3rd-Place debut finish at FIFAe Continental C’ship Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.